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33  WIST  MAM  STRKT 

WIISTIR,N.Y.  14510 

( 71* )  173-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
m 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  IMicroraproductiona  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquat 


sm^^issmmimimm. 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


|~n   Covers  damaged/ 


D 
D 


D 


Couverture  endommagAe 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurAe  et/ou  pellicul6e 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

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Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
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n 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
RelM  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  IntArieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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11  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouttes 
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male,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  AtA  filmtes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6tA  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
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point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqute  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurtes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dAcolortes,  tachettes  ou  piqu6es 

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Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  varies/ 
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Comprend  du  matAri^ai  suppl^mentaire 

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ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  6t6  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


26X 


EI 

MX 


aox 


28X 


32X 


i 


ills 

du 

difier 

jne 

lage 


The  copy  filmad  h«ro  has  be«n  raproducod  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  of  Congrass 
Photoduplication  Sarvice 

Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  iagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  fllmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  fllmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  Illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Tha  last  racordad  frams  on  aach  microficha 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  -^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  ▼  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 

Maps,  platas.  charts,  ate,  may  ba  fllmad  at 
diffarant  raductlon  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraiy  includad  in  ona  axposura  ara  fllmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framas  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  lllustrata  the 
mathod: 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
ginArositA  da: 

Library  of  Congress 
Photoduplication  Servica 

Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  At*  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattati  da  I'axampiaira  fiimA,  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  d« 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplalras  orlglnaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  ast  ImprlmAa  sont  filmte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramlar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprasslon  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axamplalras 
orlglnaux  sont  fllmis  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprasslon  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  taiia 
amprainta. 

Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha,  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  — ►  signlfia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
symbols  ▼  signlfia  "FIN". 

Las  cartas,  planchas,  tablaaux,  ate,  pauvant  Atre 
filmte  A  daa  taux  da  reduction  diff Arants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  saul  cllchA,  II  ast  film*  A  partir 
da  I'angla  supArlaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  A  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  bas,  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'Imagas  nAcaasalra.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
lllustrant  la  mAthoda. 


rta 


»iura. 

A 


3 

2X 


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1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

IHBMIMW 


|7' 
11 


BLONDIN,  THE  HERO  OF  NIAGARA. 


rk 


|I{.  BLONDIN  was  born  on  the  28tli  of  February,  1824,  in  tlie  villiige  of 
St.  Omer,  Pas  do  Calais,  France.  His  father  was  one  of  the  Old  Guard, 
and  had  fought  under  Napoleon  during  the  Russian  war  at  the  battles  of 
Moscow,  Austcrlitz  and  Wugram.  He  died  before  little  Blondin  had  reached 
his  ninth  year.  When  but  four  years  of  age  the  little  one  had  already  shown 
signs  of  extraordinary  courage  and  ability,  and  was  therefore  brought  by  his 
father  to  the  school  of  higher  gymnastic  science  of  Lyons,  where,  after  a 
season  of  six  months,  he  was  declared  by  the  Directory  able  to  perform  before 
the  public.  We  do  not  wish  to  describe  his  boyhood,  but  we  will  follow  him 
to  America — the  place  of  his  fame.  Blondin  is,  without  any  question  or 
doubt,  the  king  of  the  tight-rope,  and  although  he  has  found  so  many  rivals 
there  hns  not  been  one  to  equal  him  or  to  be  able  to  say  to  him  "  I  can  do  the 
same  as  yon." 

Till  the  year  1855  very  little  was  known  to  the  world  of  the  rope  dancing 
genius;  but  at  that  time  Blondin  gave  up  his  ordinary  attendance  at  festivals 
in  villages  and  towns,  and  undertook  a  voyage  to  America  as  a  member  of  a 
gymnastic  troupe  called  the  "Bavel  Family."  Here  in  America  his  talent 
made  itself  known  in  a  wonderful  performance.  Antoine  Ravel  appeared  one 
evening  with  the  piece  de  resistance  of  the  programme.  He  placed  a  cordon 
of  Arabian  soldiers  around  him,  with  bayonets  on  the  tops  of  their  guns, 
intending  to  jump  over  their  heads  and  the  bayonets.  As  he  was  still  occupied 
trying  to  arrange  them  and  displeased  that  they  could  not  stand  as  he  wished, 
Blondin,  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  ring,  nncostumed,  and  assisting  in 
urrunging  the  men,  tried  for  fun  to  jump  over  them  unprepared  as  he  was,  to 
the  amazement  of  the  public.  He  succeeded  in  a  masterly  manner  and  from 
that  moment  his  renown  began. 

In  the  winter  of  1858  the  thought  occurred  to  him  to  work  at  his  own  risk, 
and  to  be  independent.  He  visited  Niagara  Falls,  and  took  it  into  his  head 
to  stretch  a  rope  170  feet  long  over  the  waterfall,  and  w<ilk  across.  It  was,  of 
course,  impossible  to  i.,»tempt  this  in  the  winter,  but  he  took  up  his  residence 
there  in  the  hotel  so  as  to  be  able  to  give  his  e.Thibition  in  the  spring.  The 
rope  which  he  had  made  for  the  purpose  was  1100  feet  long. 

When  the  information  of  his  intention  was  published  in  the  papers  it  seemed 
almost  incredible,  but  what  was  at  Brst  supposed  to  be  humbug  spread  rapidly 
over  the  United  States,  and  at  length  in  the  presence  of  50,000  persons, 
Blondin  walked  across  the  Niagara  on  the  30th  of  June,  1859.  The  whole 
Union  talked  about  the  aud.icious  Frenchman.  Not  satisfied  with  this  result 
he  repeated  the  walk,  wrapprd  in  a  sack,  and  just  as  safely  as  if  he  had  used 
his  eyes. 


NIAGARA   PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 
n     fl,n  nth  ot  July  in  ti>o  Buffalo  Theatre,  ho  carried  a  man  on  his 

.riving  exhibitions  on  the  wire  rope.     On  the  19th  he  ^'^  "ed  a  m 

man  on  Ins  back.     Ui»  IMt  poi 'o'«'^  »  breuthless  «lion 

„,  ,„o  P,i„c«  of  Wa  0.  .ml  Ins  »,      ^^^^'J;^^IZ^^,_..  Th.,.k  God  iU 

„,„„  lilondin  awworea,     Nothing,  biu  "'""^  J  ,,'„  i^^  jho  picture 

I„the  suite  of  tho  Prinee  there  was  a  l'''°'°f '"P  "' ^^^^     |e,  B|„„din 
ot  the  rope-dancer  during  hi.  passage  across.    W,tho«  J  W«>^^        ■ 

rncttrLtrrC  ir^lSl':';  .tp^Le  a  remittance 

"':z:t;r:rr:trr.;«;h,^ 

which  Mr.  Blondin  gave  yesterday,  and  desired  to  expiess 
The  personal  courage  evinced  at  that  grand  performance. 

"  Sfiaaara  Falls,  loth  September,  18(J0.  ,       ..      .• 

to  1877. 


t 

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tin  on  his 
iillcry— up 
er  Niiigani 
need  again 
tin  over  on 
of  Septeni- 
ight  of  the 

carrying  a 
he  presence 
thless  when 
ank  God  its 
admiration, 


»pe 


where- 


le  balance." 
;  the  picture 
ole,  Blondin 
>  was  taken, 
a  remittance 

ales  to  send 
al  Highness 
26  and  skill 
idrairation  of 


by  attracting 
d  him  with  a 

■efulnes3  with 
present  time, 
I  India,  Java, 
lia  from  1874 


1 , 


MI^^S  EYE  YEW 

or 


.    •  guwwiwB  SPRina. 


mor* 


NIAGARA  PAKE 


ILICSTKATED. 


ORIGINAL     AND     SELECTED. 


DESCRIPTIONS.    ROEMS 


AND 


it 


3-.7' 


ADVENTURES 


BDITKD   BV  ALICE  HYNKMAN  RHINK. 


NEW    YORK: 

PUBLISHED    BY    WM.    T.    HUNTER. 

31  West  i3TH  Steekt. 

1888. 


CorvaicMT,  1*85,  by  O.  C.  Lo«w«i«thau   Corv«ioHT,  iMI,  by  Wm.  T.   Hmrm. 


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A    GUIDE 

TO 


H  POINTS  I  OF  I  INTEREST  h- 


IN  AND  AROUND  . 


NIAGARA    PARK. 


HE  various  points  of  interest  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Great  Falls  are  given 
below  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  usually  visited.    On  the  following 
pages  will  be  found  the  noteworthy  things  connected  with  each  place. 


AMERICAN  BIDE. 

<3nat  Island  Bridge. 

AmericaD  Raplda  above  the  Falla. 

QOAT  ISLAND  QBODP. 

Bath  Island. 
Luna  Island. 
Chapin  laland. 
Robinson  Island. 
Ship  and  Brig  Islands. 
Three  Sisters  Islands. 
The  Center  Fall. 
The  Three  Profiles. 
Hog's  Bacli. 
Biddle  Stairs. 
Cave  of  the  Winds. 
Rock  of  Ages.  ' 

Terrapin  Bridge. 
Head  of  Goat  Island. 
The  Leaping  RocIk. 

PROSPECT  PABK. 

The  Point. 

Inclined  Rdlway. 

Sliadow  of  the  Rock. 

Hurricane  Bridge. 

Whirlpool  Rapids— American  side. 

The  Whirlpool— American  side. 

The  Devils  Hole. 

Lewiston. 

Fort  Niagara. 

Indiu  Village. 


CANADIAN  SIDE. 

View  from  Above. 

General  View. 

American  Falls  (Front  View). 

Table  Rock. 

Horseshoe  Fall. 

SpiraV  Staircase. 

Under  Tabic  Rock. 

Behind  the  Horseshoe  Fall. 

Canadian  Rapids  above  the  Falls. 

Cedar  Isle  Pagoda. 

Grand  Rapids  Drive. 

Castor  and  Pollux  Bridges. 

Cynthia  Island. 

Clark  Hill  Islands. 

The  Lovers' Walk. 

Burning  Spring. 

Museum. 

The  Ferry. 

New  Suspension  Bridge. 

Railway  Suspension  Bridge. 

Whirlpool  Rapids  Park. 

Whirlpool  and  Manitou  Rock. 

Brock's  Monument. 

Queenston. 

Niagara  Town. 

Fort  Miasasauga. 

Drummondville. 

Lundy  Lane  Battle  Ground. 

Navy  Idand. 

Chippewa  Battle  Ground. 


ii 


DISTANCES  FROM  PRINCIPAL  HOTELS. 

HE  following  table  of  distances  between  the  various  points  are  gijen  in 
condensed  form,  to  enable  the  traveler  to  find  out  at  a  glance  how  far  the 
places  lie  apart,  and  thus  economize  his  time. 


Around  Goat  Island, 

"      Prospect  Park, 
To  New  Suspension  Bridge, 

"  Railway     "  "         •  • 

"  Michigan  Central  Cantilever  Bridge, 

"  Whirlpool  Rapids,    . 

"Whirlpool, 

••  Devil's  Hole, 

"  Top  of  Mountain, 

'  •  Indian  Village  (Council  House),      . 

"Table  Rock,       ... 

«      "        "  Yia  New  Suspension  Bridge,  or  Ferry, 

.<      <<        •'    ■<  Railway  Suspension  Bridge, 

"  Burning  Spring,       .  •  •  • 

<<       •<  •<     via  New  Suspension  Bridge, 

..       •■  ««      "  Railway  Suspension  Bridge 

"  Lundy's  Lane  Battle  Ground,    . 
"  Brock's  Monument,  Queenston  Heights, 


AMER 

BIDE. 

CASADA  BIDS. 

li  miles. 

2  miles. 

i 

•  < 

1 

i 

If 

1 

2 

If 

2 

H 

If 

1» 

24 

II 

24 

8 

ff 

21 

8i 

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4 

64 

II 

7 

8 

II 

84 

, 

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II 

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14 

24 

ff 

— 

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6 

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— 

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7 


In  the  interest  of  both  visitors  and  drivers  of  carriages  a  schedule  is  here 
appended  of  the  amount  of  fare  allowed  by  law,  to  be  collected  for  services 

rendered. 

RATES   OF    FARE 

ALWWBD  BY  LAW  IK   rHB  VILLAGE  OF  NIAGARA  FALLS.  H.  T..  FOB  THE  USB  A»D 

HIBB  OF  CABRIAOBB  WHBBB  KG  BXPRE8B  COSTBACT 

IB  HADE  THEBBFOB  : 

For  carrying  one  passenger  and  ordinary  baggage  from  one  place  to  another  in  the 
Village. 

Each  additional  passenger  and  ordinary  baggage,  •.*....     .*„  _  . ' 

pTcSng  one  pa«»nger  and  ordinary  baggage  from  any  point  in  this  village  to 
any  point  in  the  village  of  Suspension  Bridge 

Bach  additional  passenger  and  ordinary  baggage,  ••  •  • 

Each  additional  piece  of  baggage  other  than  ordinary  baggage, 

Children  under  three  years  of  age,  free.  .   ,,   _, 

Owr  three  vears  and  under  fourteen  years  of  age,  half  price. 

SnTl^gTge  i»  defined  to  be  one  trunk  and  one  tag,  hat  or  h«.dbox,  or  other  small 

For  c«rS^le  or  more  p.«engers,  in  the  «ime  carriage,  from  any  point  in  tW;rIUage  to 

For  «*^^"8^«  °^,^,„  ^J^  ^t  jhe  limiU  of  the  village,  at  the  rate  of  one  do  lar  and 

M^  wnU  for  each  hour  occupied,  except  Uiat  in  every  insUnce  where  such  car- 

Se  rtSl  ta^wn  by  a  rinjje  hor«».  the  faro  therofor  riiall  be  at  the  rate  of  one 

dollar  per  hour  for  each  hour  occupied. 


|0  60 

0  25 

1  00 
080 
OlS 


ire  given  in 
how  far  the 


CASADA  SIDE. 

2  miles. 

1  " 

*    " 

2  " 

1»  " 

2i  " 

2|  " 

4  " 

7  " 

8i  " 

4  " 


U 


U 

7 


tednle  is  here 
1  for  services 


BB  UBBAHD 


r  in  the 


llage  to 


fO  60 
035 

1  00 
0  60 
0  12 


:,  or  other  amall 

in  this  village  to 
{  one  dollar  and 
where  such  car- 
t  the  rate  of  one 


^l^<3i^U^  5XtE. 


POINTS   OF    INTEREST    ON    THE   AMERICAN   SIDE. 

OOAT    ISLAND     aBOUP. 

^^^^I^OAT  ISLAND  is  considered  the  most   important    point  at 

^m         .     y$    Niagara.     It  stands  on  the  verge  of  the  cliff  over  which  the 

^H       ^^^^^  cataract  pours,  and  divides  the  river  in  such  a  manner  as 

^^^     ^^^m^  to  form  from  its  waters  two  falls — the  one  being  known 

^^^^^B      as  the  American  the  other  as  the  Horseshoe  or  Canadian 

FalU.    Near  Goat  Island  are  several  smaller  islands,  notably 

Bath  Island,  Luna  Island,  Terrapin  Rocks,    Three  Sisters  Islands.     These 

are  made  accessible  by  bridges,  and,  with  ten  others  not  yet  bridged,  are  all 

included  under  the  head  of  the  Goat  Island  Group. 

The  attractions  of  Goat  Island  were  such  that  long  before  it  was  bridged  it 
was  visited  from  time  to  time  by  persons  undeterred  by  the  peril  of  reaching 
it.  Cul.  in  the  bark  of  a  beech  tree,  the  late  Judge  Porter  found  the  dates  of 
1771,  1772  and  1779.  The  first  bridge  erected  across  Goat  Island  was  built  in 
1817.  This  was  washed  away  in  the  following  winter  by  the  high  water  and  ice. 
In  1818  it  was  replaced  by  one  which  lasted  from  1818  to  1856.  This  was  re* 
moved  to  give  place  to  the  present  elegant  structure — remarkable  from  the 
fact  that  it  spans  one  of  the  most  turbulent  of  any  known  rapids.  How 
the  bridge  was  built  over  the  rapids  is  thus  described  by  Col.  Porter:  "A  suit- 
able pier  and  platform  was  built  at  the  water's  edge;  long  timbers  were  pro- 
jected over  this  abutment  the  distance  they  wished  to  sink  the  next  pier,  heav- 
ily loaded  on  the  end  next  to  the  shore  with  stone,  to  prevent  their  moving. 
Legs  were  framed  through  the  ends  of  the  projecting  timbers,  resting  upon 
the  rooky  bottom,  thus  forming  a  temporary  pier,  around  which  a  more 
substantial  one  was 
built.  These  timbers 
were  then  securely 
fastened  to  this  pier, 
cross  -  boards  were 
spiked  on,  and  the 
first  section  was  done. 
The  plan  was  repeated 
for  each  arch." 

Iris  Island  was  for- 
merly the  much  more 
appropriate  name  for 
Goat  Island.  It  owes 
its  present  name  to  the 
fact  that  some  goats, 


J    1 
1  ■    ( 


» 


mAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 

placed  there  to  pasture  ia  1779,  perished  from  cold  during  the  winter.  The 
area  of  Goat  Island  is  sixty-one  and  a  half  acres.  It  is  a  lovely  and  romantic 
spot,  densely  wooded,  and  has  been  left  in  much  of  its  primeval  simplicity.  In 
ancient  times  it  was  one  of  the  favorite  burying-gronnds  of  the  Indians. 

THE  AMERICAX   RAPIDS   ABOVE  THE   FALLS. 

Crossing  the  first  bridge  a  grand  view  of  the  rapids  is  obtained.  Looked  at 
from  this  point,  the  rapids  present  an  appearance  of  plunging  from  the  sky, 
a  peculiarity  which  the  Canadian  rapids  have  when  seen  from  the  Canada 
shore.  Their  course  for  the  distance  of  three-quarters  of  a  mile  is  "over 
lodges  of  rugged  rocks,  making  a  descent  of  flfty-two  feet  on  the  American 
side  and  iifty-seven  on  the  Canada  side. 

hog's  back. 

At  the  northwest  ^art  of  the  island  is  a  narrow  ridge,  named,  from  its  shape. 
Hog's  Back.     From  this  is  gained  an  excellent  view  of  the  American  Falls. 

LUNA  island. 

Descending  a  flight  of  stairs  and  crossing  a  bridge  over  the  stream  that 
forms  the  Center  Fall,  the  traveler  reaches  Luna  Island,  so  called  because  the 
Luna  bow' is  seea  here  to  the  best  advantage. 

THE  THREE  PROFILES 

Form  a  part  of  Lnna  Island.  They  are  an  irregular  projection  of  a  portion 
of  the  precipice,  and  are  almost  under  the  American  Fall.  They  obtain  their 
name  from  a  fancied  likeness  to  three  human  faces. 

THE  CENTER  FALL, 

Passed  over  on  the  way  to  and  from  Ooat  Island,  is  a  stream  one  hundred 
feet  high  and  well  worthy  of  notice. 

THE  BIDDLE  STAIRS. 

These  are  a  few  paces  from  the  bridge.  They  were  erected  in  1829,  by  Mr. 
Biddle,  president  of  the  United  States  Bank.  They  are  eighty  feet  high,  and 
are  firmly  secured  to  the  cliff  by  ponderous  iron  bolts,  which  are  said  to  be 
perfectly  safe.  The  total  descent  from  the  top  of  the  bank  to  the  bottom  is 
one  hundred  and  eighty-five  feet. 

THE  CAVE  OP  THE  WINDS. 

A  few  moments'  walk  from  the  foot  of  the  Biddle  Stairs  is  the  Cave  of  the 
Winds.  This  is  behind  the  Center  Fall,  and  is  by  all  means  the  best  place  to  go 
behind  the  sheet  of  water.  Tho  cave  is  one  hundred  feet  high  by  one  hundred 
deep,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  long.  Its  excavation  is  duo  to  the  action  of 
tho  water  upon  the  shale,  leaving  the  more  solid  limestone  rock  overhanging. 
This  projecting  above  about  thirty  feet  beyond  tho  base,  an  open  cave  is  formed 
over  which  falls  tho  never-ceasing  torrent  of  Niagara.  A  dress  of  water-proof 
material  is  requisite  to  bo  worn  by  all  visitors  to  the  Cave  of  the  Winds. 

THE  BOCK  OF  A0B8. 

This  is  the  huge  rook  which  lies  at  the  foot  of  the  Falls  in  front  of  tho  Cave 
of  tbe  Winds. 


V: 


e  winter.  The 
y  and  romantic 
[  simplicity.  In 
I  Indians. 


ed.  Looked  at 
;  from  the  sky, 
)m  the  Canada 
mile  is  "over 
i  the  American 


,  from  its  shape, 
nerican  Falls. 

he  stream  that 
led  because  the 


on  of  a  portion 
hey  obtain  their 


m.  one  hundred 


in  1829,  by  Mr. 
;y  feet  high,  and 
ih  are  said  to  be 
bo  the  bottom  is 


the  Cave  of  the 
10  best  place  to  go 

by  one  hundred 
I  to  the  action  of 
)ck  overhanging, 
m  cave  is  formed 
SB  of  water-proof 

the  Winds. 

Eront  of  the  Gave 


POINTS   OF  INTEREST. 


17 


TERRAPIN   BRIDGE.  » 

The  next  interesting  point  of  observation  is  Terrapin  Bridge,  where  for 
forty  years  the  well-known  Terrapin  Tower  standing  on  the  verge  of  the  Falls, 
constituted  a  landmark  to  be  seen  from  all  directions.  It  was  blown  up  in 
1873,  as  it  was  believed  to  be  unsafe.  The  Bridge  being  near  enough  to  the 
Fall  to  be  affected  by  its  spray,  those  who  pass  over  it  should  avoid  exposure. 

THREE    SISTERS    ISLANDS. 

Located  in  the  midst  of  the  rapids,  they  afford  desirable  points  from  which 
to  observe  the  scenery.  From  the  head  of  the  third  Sister  may  be  seen  one 
continuous  cascade,  extending  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  from  Goat  Island 
across  to  the  Canada  shore,  and  from  which  the  spray  rises  in  beautiful  clouds. 
This  presents  a  phenomenon  that  has  been  termed  the 

LEAPING    ROCK. 

The  water  striking  against  the  rock,  rises  perpetually  in  an  unbroken  column, 
twenty  feet    or    more 
high,  producing  a  bril- 
liant effect. 

THE  hermit's  cascade 

Is  a  beautiful  fall,  span- 
ned by  the  first  Sister 
Island  bridge. 

prospect  park 
Is  a  piece  of  land  some 
twelve  acres  in  extent, 
which  adjoins  the  Amer- 
ican Fall.  It  comprises 
what  is  known  as  the  old 
ferry,  and  some  lands 

extending  from  Rapids  i»r<wpbct  p«iik  ■wtbaicoi. 

Street  to  the  new  Suspension  Biidge.  The  main  entrance  to  the  park  is 
through  the  gateway,  of  which  a  cut  is  here  given.  This  is  one  of  the 
structures  that  will,  in  all  probability,  be  removed  when  the  attempt  is  made 
to  restore  Niagara  to  its  primal  simplicity. 

THE    inclined    RAILWAY. 

From  the  cliff  the  visitor  descends  to  the  water's  edge  either  by  a  stairway 
numbering  some  three  hundred  stairs,  or  in  a  car  running  on  an  inclined  rail- 
way. This  railway  is  built  within  a  tunnel  cut  from  the  cliff  to  the  margin  of 
the  river,  at  an  angle  of  about  thirty  degrees.  The  cars  are  raised  and  lowered 
by  machinery,  being  so  arranged  that  one  ascends  while  the  other  descends. 

prospect  point. 

A  point  of  land  on  the  brink  of  the  Falls.  Here  the  waters  descend  in  an 
unbroken  mass.  Immediately  in  front  is  the  American  Fall,  its  waters  almost 
within  reach  of  the  outstretched  hand. 


18 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


THE    SHADOW    OF    THE    ROCK. 

The  name  given  to  the  space  between  the  rock  and  the  sheet  of  water  at 
the  end  of  the  American  Falls. 

HURBIOAKE    BRIDGE. 

A  point  from  which  may  be  seen  a  tremendous  cloud  of  mist,  fringed  with  all 
the  colors  of  the  rainbow.  The  scene  is  wild  and  sublime.  Looking  upwards 
to  the  crest  of  the  cataract,  the  immense  mass  of  water  seems  to  jwur  down 
from  the  skies. 

WHIRLPOOL    RAPIDS. 

The  Whirlpool  Rapids,  as  seen  from  the  American  side,  have  a  p-iculiar 
charm  in  the  fierce  glint  of  the  sunlight  illuminating  the  crests  of  the  flood, 
and  in  the  emei-ald  and  opal  translucence  of  the  waters  passing  onward  in  their 
swift  career.  On  the  American  side  a  double  elevator,  and  on  the  Canada 
side  an  inclined  railway,  have  been  provided  to  descend  to  the  water's  edge,  and 
give  a  near  view  of  the  wild  scene. 

THE    WHIRLPOOL. 

The  Whirlpool  is  half  a  mile  below  the  Rapids.  It  is  a  vast  basin  or  amphi- 
tlieatre  opening  at  right  angles  with  the  river  above.  The  pool  is  shut  in  on 
all  sides,  save  the  opening  mentioned,  by  rocky  cliffs  three  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  high,  whose  sides,  facing  the  river,  are  quite  smooth  and  perpendicular. 
The  basin  containing  this  pool  is  nearly  circular,  and,  together  with  the  water, 
form  a  very  picturesque  scene.  The  Whirlpool  may  bo  seen  to  advantage 
from  either  the  Canadian  or  the  American  side. 

THE  devil's  HOLE. 

Three  and  a  half  miles  below  the  Falls,  on  the  American  side,  is  the  Devil's 
Hole,  a  chasm  in  the  bank  of  the  river,  between  one  hundred  and  two  hundred 
feet  deep.  This  chasm  was  cut  by  the  stream  continuously  flowing  into  it, 
aided  by  the  enormous  force  which  the  Falls  reached  at  this  point. 

LEWISTON,  N.   y., 

Opposite  Queenston,  is  beautifully  situated,  about  seven  miles  from  the  Falls. 
Is  u  place  of  some  importance,  and  stands  at  the  head  of  the  navigation  of  the 
river. 

FORT   KIAQARA. 

There  are  many  interesting  associations  connected  with  this  spot.  During 
the  earlier  part  of  the  past  century,  it  was  the  scene  of  many  bloody  conflicts 
between  the  whites  and  the  Indians,  and  later  between  the  English  and  the 
French.  La  Salle  in  1678  established  a  trading  post  there.  Fort  Niagara 
stands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River  on  the  American  side. 

INDIAir  VILLASB. 

The  Tuscarora  Indian  Reservation,  nine  miles  northeast  of  the  Falls,  w  a 
strictly  Indian  village,  and  well  worth  a  visit. 


A 


of  water  at 


ngedwith  all 
ing  upwards 
»  pour  down 


e  a  p'jculiar 
of  the  flood, 
ward  in  their 
the  Canada 
sr's  edge,  and 


iin  or  amphi- 
is  shut  in  on 
red  and  fifty 
jrpendicular. 
ith  the  water, 
to  advantage 


is  the  Devil's 
two  hundred 
wing  into  it, 
it. 


om  the  Falls, 
igation  of  the 


pot.  During 
oody  conflicts 
glish  and  the 
Fort  Niagara 


bhe  Falls,  in  a 


POINTS   OF  INTEREST. 


CANADIAN  SIDE. 


19 


On  the  Canada  shore,  at  a  point  near  the  Clifton  House,  one  of  the  best 
^neral  views  of  ^liagara  Falls  is  to  be  obtained.  The  large  cataract  stretching 
from  shore  to  shore  is  the  Canadian  Horseshoe  Fall,  whilst  the  smaller  one  is 
the  American. 

AMERICAN   FALLS — FRONT  VIEW. 

From  a  small  platform  on  the  ledge  opposite  the  Brunswick  House  there  is 
charming  front  view  of  the  American  and  Center  Falls. 

TABLE   ROCK. 

Table  Bock  exists  now  only  in  name,  and  the  interest  attached  to  its  site.  In 
old  times  it  was  one  of  the  most  famous  points  about  Niagara.  A  spiral  stair- 
case anchored  to  the  banks  at  the' north  end  of  Table  Rock  leads  under  Table 
Rock  and  to  the  foot  of  Horseshoe  J'all.  Dresses  of  waterproof  and  a  guide 
are  necessary  for  those  who  wish  to  pass  below  Table  Rock  and  under  the  Falls. 

HORSESHOE  FALL. 

This  is  the  edge  of  the  famous  Cataract.  The  depth  of  the  wat6r  in  the 
centre  was  ascertained  to  be  more  thaA  twenty  feet,  by  an  experiment  made 
with  an  nnseaworthy  vessel,  the  Michigan,  which  was  sent  over  the  Falls  in 
1827.  This  Fall  is  nineteen  hundred  feet  across,  with  a  plunge  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-eight  feet.  Fifteen  hundired  million  cubic  feet  of  water  pass 
over  the  ledge  every  hour.  The  shape  of  the  Horseshoe  curve  has  been  spoilt 
by  the  falling  at  various, times  of  portions  of  the  cliff. 

■  TABLE  BOCK   AND  BEHIND  THE  FALLS. 

Here  the  view  is  grand  to  an  awful  degree  and  the  tremendou*  magnificence 
of  Niagara  is  impressed  more  than  ever  upon  the  beholder  who  gazes  upward 
at  the  beetling  clifl  that  seems  ready  to  fall,  and,  poising  under  the  thick 
curtain  of  water — so  near  that  it  seenis  as  if  it  could  be  touched — hears  the 
hissing  spray  and  the  deafening  roar  that  issues  from  the  misty  vortex  below. 
The  precipice  of  the  Horseshoe  Fall  rises  perpendicularly  to  a  height  of  ninety 
feet. 

CANADIAN  RAPII>8  ABOVE  THE  FALLS. 

These  beautiful  waters  are  to  be  secii  from  the  crest  of  Table  Rock.  Cedar 
Island  is  reached  by  crossing  the  river.  The  Grand  Rapids  Drive  leads  along 
the  Canadian  Rapids  to  the  fi«  Clark  Hill  Islands,  which  are  connected  to 
the  main  land  by  the  suspension  bridges  *•  Castor"  and  " Pollux."  Cynthia 
Island  is  opposite  the  renowned 

BURNING    SPRING, 

The  water  of  which  is  highly  charged  with  sulphureted  hydrogen  gas, 
which,  when  lit,  emits  a  pale  blue  light.  T^is  spring,  tradition  says, 
was  known  to  and  worshiped  by  the  Indians,  who  considered  it  as  one  form 
of  the  Great  Spirit. 


1 


80  IflAOAIiA  I'AItK  ILLUSTltATliD. 

MUSEUM    BUILDIXO. 

This,  at  present,  is  in  tiio  village,  and  contains  a  collection  of  curiosities^ 

NEW    SUSPENSION    DBIDGE, 

In  full  view  of  the  Great  Cataract,  from  it  can  bo  had  an  excellent  view  of  the 
Falls. 

OLD    SUSPENSION    niUDOE 

Is  two  miles  below  the  Falls.  It  was  built  in  1855,  by  John  A.  Roebling,  and 
is  considered  a  marvel  of  engineering  skill. 

brock's    MONUMENT 

Stands  on  Qncenston  Heights,  four  miles  below  the  Whirlpool.  It  is  erected 
to  the  memory  of  the  British  General,  Sir  Isaac  Brock,  who  fell  in  the  war  of 
1812. 

QUEBNSTON,  ONTARIO, 

Noticeable  on  account  of  the  battle  that  took  place  on  the  neighboring  heights. 

NIAGARA    tow:,-, 

On  the  Canada  shore.     A  short  distance  above  the  town  are  the  remains  of 

FOltT    GEORGE, 

Which  was  taken  by  the  Americans  in  1813;  afterward  destroyed  by  the 
British  and  left  in  ruins. 


HEW  BUBI'JINSION  URIDOB. 


curiosities^ 
view  of  the 

abling,  and 


b  is  erected 
tlio  war  of 


ng  heights, 
mains  of 
^ed  by  the 


Vf-i 


r 


1 ' 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 

EARLY  APPEARANCE   OF   NIAGARA. 

HE  first  deecription  of  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  given  by  an  eye-vitness,  i^ 
that  of  Father  Hennepin,  who,  in  1C78,  in  the  double  character  of 
riest  and  historian,  accompanied  La  Salle  in  his  expedition  to  the  upper 
lakes.  Father  Hennepin's  account  published  in  1697  is 
exceedingly  interesting,  as  he  gave  a  full  and  glowing 
description  of  the  Falls  as  they  appeared  at  that  time, 
before  erosion  had  worn  them  away  to  their  present  ap- 
pearance. Uis  history  was  further  enriched  by  n  sketch 
of  the  Falls,  which  was  the  first  known  representation  of 
Niagara.  This  is  reproduced  in  exact  fac-simile  on  the 
following  page,  and  for  the  benefit  of  those  curious  in  such 
things  the  following  extract  is  given  from  the  entbusiastie 
Father's  recital : 

Hennepin's  Account. 

A  description  of  the  Fall  of  the  River  Niagara  which  is  to 

be  seen  betwixt  the  Lake  Ontario  and  that  of  Erie. 

Betwixt  the  Lake  Ontario  and  Erie,  there  is  a  vast  and 
prodigious  Cadence  of  Water,  which  falls  down  after  a  sur- 
prizing and  astonishing  manner,  insomuch  that  the  Uni- 
verse does  not  afford  its  Parallel.  'Tis  true,  Italy  and  Suede- 
land  boast  of  some  such  Things ;  but  we  may  well  say 
they  are  but  sorry  patterns,  when  compar'd  to  this  of 
which  we  now  speak.  At  the  foot  of  this  horrible  Preci- 
pice, wo  meet  with  the  River  Niagara,  which  is  not  abqvo 
a  quarter  of  a  League  Ji>road,  but  is  wonderfully  deep  in 
some  places.  It  is  so  rapid  above  this  Descent,  that  it 
violently  hurries  down  the  wild  Beasts  while  endeavoring 
to  pass  it  to  feed  on  the  other  side,  they  not  being  ablo 
to  withstand  the  force  of  its  Ourrent,  which  enevitably 
casts  them  headlong  above  Six  hundred  foot  high. 

This  wonderful  Downfall  is  compounded  of  two  cross- 
streams  of  Water,  and  two  Falls,  with  an  isle  sloping 
along  the  middle  of  it.  The  Waters  which  fall  from  this 
horrible  Precipice,  do  foam  and  boyl  after  the  most 
hideous  manner  imaginable ;  making  an  outrageous  Noise, 
more  terrible  than  that  of  Thunder ;  for  when  the  Wind 
blows  out  of  the  8ou\h,  their  dismal  roaring  may  be  heard 
more  than  Fifteen  Leagues  off.  * 

The  River  Niagara  having  thrown  it  self  down  this  in- 
credible Precipice,  continues  its  impetuous  course  for  two 
Leagues  together,  to  the  great  Rock  above-mention'd,  with 
an  inexpressible  rapidity :  But  having  passed  that,  its  im- 
petuosity relents,  gliding  along  more  gently  for  other  two 
Leagues,  till  it  arrives  at  the  Lake  Ontario  or  Frontenac. 


^  '4* 


i-vitne8B,  is 
haracter  of 
•  the  upper 
.  in  1697  is 
ad  glovring^ 
that  time, 
present  np- 
by  n  sketch 
sentation  of 
nile  on  the 
ions  in  snch 
enthusiastic 


which  it  to 
of  Erie. 

I  a  yast  and 
after  a  snr- 

at  the  Uni- 
y  and  Suede- 
lay  well  say 
[  to  this  of 
rrible  Preci- 
is  not  aboTo 
ally  deep  in 
lont,  that  it 
endeavoring- 
t  being  able 
li  enevitably 
igh. 

f  tvo  cross- 
isle  sloping 

II  from  this 
;r  the  most 
geons  Noise, 
on  the  Wind 
nay  be  heard 

)wn  this  in- 
nrse  for  two 
ition'd,  with 

that,  its  im- 
>r  other  two 

Frontenac. 


24 


yiAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTItATED. 


Anv  Bark  or  greater  Vessel  may  pass  from  the  Fort  to  the  foot  of  this  Luge 
Itock  above  mention'd.  This  Rock  lies  to  the  Westward,  and  is  cut  off  from 
tlie  Land  by  tlie  River  Niagara  about  two  Leagues  further  down  than  the 
"reat  Fall,  for  which  two  Leagues  the  People  arc  oblig'd  to  transport  their 
goods  overland  ;  but  the  way  is  very  good  ;  and  the  Trees  are  very  few, 
chiefly  Firrs  and  Oaks. 

From  the  great  Fall  unto  this  Rock,*  which  is  to  the  West  of  the  River, 
the  two  brinks  of  it  are  so  prodigious  high,  that  it  would  make  one  tremble 
to  look  steadily  upon  the  Water,  rolling  along  with  a  rapidity  not  to  be 
;magin'd.  Were  it  not  for  this  vast  Cataract,  which  interrupts  Navigation, 
ihey  might  sail  with  Barks,  or  greater  Vessels,  more  than  Four  hundred  and 
fifty  Leagues,  crossing  the  Lake  of  Hurons,  and  reaching  even  to  the  farther 
end  of  the  Lake  Illinoia,  which  two  Lakes  we  may  easily  say  are  little  Seas 
of  fresh  Water. 

Father  Hennepin's  account  was  followed  by  that  of  La  Hontaine  who  came 
to  America  in  1687.  His  account,  like  that  of  the  former,  greatly  exaggerated 
the  height  of  the  Falls.  He  described  the  cataract  of  Niagara  as  being 
"seven  or  eight  hundred  feet  high  and  half  a  league  broad.  Towards  the 
middle  of  it "  he  says,  "  we  descry  an  island,  leaning  towards  the  precipice  as 
if  it  were  ready  to  fall.  All  the  beasts  that  do  attempt  to  cross  the  waters 
within  half  a  quarter  of  a  league  above  this  unfortunate  *sland  are  sucked  in 
by  the  stream.  They  serve  for  food  for  the  Iroquois,  who  take  them  out  of 
the  water  with  their  canoes.  Between  the  surface  of  the  water  that  shelves 
off  prodigiously,  and  the  foot  of  the  precipice  three  men  may  cross  it  abreast, 
without  any  other  damage  than  a  sprinkling  of  some  few  drops  of  water." 

Other  travelers  besides  Hennepin  and  La  Hontaine  describe  a  rock  which 
projected  upon  the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  turned  a  part  of  the  water  at 
right  angles,  making  it  form  a  cross  Fall.  Peter  Kahn,  a  noted  Swedish 
botanist,  wrote  of  a  precipitation  of  the  rocks  at  a  point  where  the  water  was 
turned  originally  out  of  its  direct  course,  which  occurred  a  few  years  previous 
to  his  visit  in  1750.  This  statement  corroborates  the  plan  of  the  Falls  as 
given  by  Father  Hennepin. 

By  comparing  tho  accompanying  fac-simile  of  a  painting  made  by  Cole  in  1833 
with  that  of  Hennepin's,  the  changes  can  bo  seen  that  time  had  made  in  the 
appearance  of  the  Falls.  "Within  the  memory  of  many  of  the  present 
inhabitants  of  the  country,"  wrote  Weld  the  English  artist  in  1706,  "the 
Falls  have  receded  soveml  yards.  Tradition  tells  us  that  the  Great  Fall, 
instead  of  having  been  in  the  form  of  a  horseshoe,  once  projected  in  the 
middle.  For  a  century  past,  however,"  he  says,  "it  has  remained  nearly  in 
.V,3  present  form." 

Tills  latter  statement  is  questionable  as  the  Falls  are  constantly  changing 
their  appearance.  Within  the  past  century  they  have  receded  so  much— 
some  Buy  one  hundred  feet — that  the  name  Horseshoe  is  no  longer  applicable 
to  them.  Portion  after  portion  of  the  cliff  has  fallen  at  various  times  until 
the  shape  is  now  more  nearly  rectangular  than  curved. 

^e  Rock  above  mentioned  was  a  huxe  boulder  or  mass  that  was  found  on  the  river  bank  near  the 
foot  of  the  mountain,  and  Just  above  tho  village  of  Lewlston. 


}f  this  Luge 
lilt  off  from 
n  than  the 
leport  their 
•0  very  few, 

the  River, 
one  tremble 
y  not  to  be 
Navigation, 
mndred  and 
the  farther 
little  Seas 

le  who  oanio 

exaggerated 

irtk  as  being 

lowards  the 

precipice  as 

the  waters 

re  sucked  in 

them  oat  of 

that  shelves 

>88  it  abreast, 

t  water." 

i  rock  which 

the  water  at 

>tod  Swedish 

he  water  was 

ears  previous 

the  Falls  as 

^Goleinl833 
made  in  the 
'  the  present 
I  1706,  "the 
Oreat  Fall, 
jected  in  the 
Dcd  nearly  in 

itly  changing 
i  so  mach — 
^er  applicable 
18  times  until 


ver  bank  n«ar  the 


jriAOARA  PAIllC  ILLU8TBATKD. 


..■.^^,.,,*i'MH^' 


-.IV.  H'i-« 


GEOGRAPHICAL  AND  HISTORICAL. 

The  Niagara  River. 

AHORT    aa  the  Niagara  Rirer  ia— its  entire   length  being  only  thirty- 
J^    six  miles— twenty  two  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  FalU,  and  fourteen  miles 
from  the  Falla  to  Lake-  Ontario,  it  la  one  of  the  moat  famona  rivora  in  the 
world.    It  ia  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie  and  the  channel  by  which  all  the  waters 
of  the  fonr  great  upper  lakea  flow  toward  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.    In  this, 
their  abort  paaaage  from  Lake  Erie  to  Lake  Ontario,  there  ia  a  total  deacent  of 
three  hundred  and  thirty-four  feet,  leaving  the  lower  lake  atill  two  hundred  and 
thirty-one  feet  above  the  aea  level.    From  the  north>eaatern  extremity  of  Lake 
Erie,  the  Niagara  flowa  northward  with  a  awift  current  for  the  flrat  two  milea 
and  then  widens  and  divides,  a  portion  passing  on  each  aide  of  Grand  laland. 
Below  the  laland  the  atream  nnitea  again,  apreada  out,  two  to  three  miles 
in  width,  and  appeara  like  a  quiet  lake  atndded  with  amall  low  ialanda. 
About  aizte^n  milea  from  Lake  Erie  ia  the  commencement  of  the  rapids,  tho 
watera  rolling  in  great  awells  as  they  rush  swiftly  down  among  the  rocks, 
accomplishing  in  thia  distance  a  fall  of  fifty-two  feet    The  groat  cataract  is 
the  termination  of  the  rapids,  the  precipitous  descent  of  which  is  one  hundred 
and  sixty-four  feet  on  the  American  aide,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  on  the 
Canadian.    Here  the  river  makea  a  curve  from  weat  to  north  and  spreads  out 
to  a  width  of  about  fonr  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
The  sources  of  the  Niagara  River  are : 
Lake  Superior,      355  miles  long,    160  miles  wide,    1,030  feet  deep. 


Huron, 

260 

<( 

100 

« 

1,000 

Michigan, 

320 

<( 

70 

<< 

1,C00 

St  Olair, 

49 

<< 

15 

<( 

20 

Erie, 

290 

<( 

65 

<( 

84 

Besides  these,  several  smaller  lakes,  with  one  hundred  rivers  large  and 
small,  pour  their  waters  this  way,  draining  a  country  of  more  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  square  milea.  Almoat  half  a  continent  serves  for 
this  drainage,  whose  remotest  springs  are  two  thousand  miles  from  the  ocean. 

To  a  supply  so  abundant,  which  is  said  to  comprise  half  the  fresh  water  on 
the  globe,  the  fact  is  due,  which  travelers  have  observed,  that  the  fiow  of 
Niagara  never  varies  perceptibly  in  volume.    Where  it  thunders  over  the 


OKOGRAPIIICAL  AM)  UISTOIUCAL. 


r 


only  thirty- 
nrteon  miles 
rivors  in  the 
11  the  waters 
ce.  In  this, 
al  descent  of 
hundred  and 
mityof  Lake 
rat  two  miles 
frond  Island. 
)  three  miles 
low  islands. 
e  rapids,  tho 
%  the  rocks, 
it  cataract  is 
one  hundred 
1  fifty  on  the 
1  spreads  out 


let  deep. 

<r 
(( 
<< 
<( 

rs  large  and 
lan  one  hun- 
nt  serves  for 
im  the  ocean, 
esh  water  on 
t  the  flow  of 
lers  over  the 


Falls,  no  eye  can  perceive  a  difference  in  its  weight,  sonnd  or  violence,  whether 
it  be  visited  amid  the  drought  of  autumn,  the  storms  of  winter,  or  after  tho 
melting  of  tho  upper  world  of  ice,  in  the  days  of  the  early  summer.  At  other 
cataracts  tho  waters  may  fail,  but  at  Niagara,  never.  There  it  is  always  soom- 
ingly  the  same,  as  it  was  perhaps  before  tho  existence  of  man,  aa  it  may  bo 
after  he  hiui  ci  48(><'  to  be,  or  until  that  time  spoken  of  by  Tyndall,  when 
thousand*  of  years  uiiall  have  worn  the  rocky  bed  of  the  river  away  buck  to 
to  tlio  upf)er 
1  a  k  u  d .  In 
opposition  to 
this  belief 
there  isa  tradi- 
tion that  there 
is  a  periodical 
rise  and  fall  in 
tho  lovol  of 
the  lakes,  em- 
bracing a  per- 
iod of  fourteen 
years.  It  is 
said  that  in 
1843,  1867, 
and  1871  the 
Niagara  River 
was  very  low. 
As  1885  forms 
the  next  cycle 
there  will  be, 
this  year  a 
chance  to  ver- 
ify the  truth 
of  this  tradi- 
tion. Ool. 
Porter  in  his 
Guide  Book  to 
Niagara  Falls, 
states  "that 
on  March  29, 
1843,  u  heavy 
gale  from  the 

west  caused  the  highest  water  ever  known.  The  water  rose  six  feet  jieppen- 
dioularly  on  the  rapids,  and  on  March  29,  1848,  a  strong  oast  wind  drove  the 
water  back  into  Lake  Erie.  The  heavy  ice  was  wedged  in  at  the  mouth  of 
the  river.  This  dammed  the  water  up,  and  soon  the  river  was  nearly  dry. 
The  rocks  under  the  rapids  were  bare,  and  people  walked  and  drove  over 
them.     The  Falls,  of  course  shrank  to  a  mere  nothing.     The  next  morning 


OUTLET  OP  KIAOABA  UIVEB. 


28 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


the  ice  was  forced  out,  and  Niagara  resumed  its  sway,  but  the  sights  and  the 
experiences  of  that  day  were  novel  ones." 

It  has  been  calculated  that  the  average  depth  of  the  river  from  Lake  Erie 
to  the  Fallc  is  aboi.  twenty  feet.  Between  the  Falls  and  the  Whirlpool,  the 
depth  varies  l.»  ui  s.  onty-five  to  two  hundred  feet.  At  tha  Rapids  it  is 
estimated  at  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and  in  the  Whirlpool  at  four  hun- 
dred. This  is  the  depth  of  the  water  alone.  The  mass  of  stone,  gravel,  shale, 
etc.,  which  in  one  way  and  another  has  been  carried  into  the  channel,  lies 
below  the  water  and  above  the  original  bottom  of  the  gorge,  which,  therefore, 
is  probably  as  deep  again.  Various  estimates  have  been  given  of  the  amount 
of  water  going  over  the  Falls.  A  point  three  hundred  feet  wide  below  the  Falls 
being  selected,  the  depth  estimated,  and  the  velocity  of  the  current  known, 
it  was  estimated  that  1,500,000,000  cubic  feet  passed  that  point  every  minute. 
Another  estimate  says  100,000,000  of  tons  pass  through  the  Whirlpool  every 
hour. 

Judge  De  Veaux  estimated  that  6,000,000,000  barrels  go  over  every  twenty- 
four  hours ;  211,836,853  barrels  an  hour  ;  3,536,614  barrels  a  minute  ;  58,343 
barrels  each  second. 

The  Falls  are  in  latitude  43*  6"  north;  longitude  2*  5"  west  from  Wash- 
ington, or  79*  5"  west  from  Greenwich. 

The  Horseshoe  Fall  has  an  aggregate  length  of  over  2,000  feet;  the  Ameri- 
can Fall,  about  800  feet. 

The  nama  of  the  Niagara  River  has  given  rise  to  much  controversy  between 
philologists.  Some  suppose  it  to  be  simply  a  contraction  of  the  Indian  word 
Oniahgahrdh  meaning  "thunder  of  waters."  Others  find  its  origin  in  Onyah- 
ra?i,  which  signifies  neck,  and  might  be  applied  to  the  peninsula,  a  neck  of 
land  between  the  two  lakes.  The  more  numerous  believe  it  to  be  derived 
from  the  name  of  a  tribe  dwelling  on  the  northern  bank  of  the  river  when 
first  discovered  by  the  whites.  The  missionaries  called  these  people  the 
JHeutre  Nation,  because  they  endeavored  to  live  at  peace  with  the  Huron  and 
Iroquois  tribes,  but  they  appear  to  have  called  themselves  Onghiahrahs. 
Niagara  is  but  one  of  forty  known  ways  of  spelling  the  name. 

From  its  situation  lying  between  the  two  great  lakes  and  unrivaled  in  all 
North  America  for  its  genial  climate  and  fertile  soil,  Niagara  has  been  from 
time  immemorial  the  scene  of  bloody  contests.     Long  before  its  discovery  by 

the  whites  it  had  been  the 
theatre  for  Indian  wars.  The 
Hurons  dwelt  to  the  north, 
the  Iroquois  to  the  south,  be- 
tween these  were  the  Niagaras, 
a  brave  but  not  warlike  people, 
who  were  in  time  absorbed  or 
destroyed  by  their  fiercer  neigh- 
bors. In  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury the  tribe  became  extinct. 
Contests  between  the  French 


ights  and  the 

n  Lake  Erie 

'^hirlpool,  the 

Rapids  it  is 

at  four  hun- 

gravel,  shale, 

channel,  lies 

h,  therefore, 

the  amount 

3I0W  the  Falls 

'rent  known, 

3very  minute. 

lirlpool  every 

Bvery  twenty- 
nute;  68,343 

from  Waah- 
b;  the  Ameri- 

rersy  between 
Indian  word 
gin  in  Onyah- 
la,  a  neck  of 
to  be  derived 
le  river  when 
se  people  the 
e  Huron  and 
Onghiahrahs. 

trivaled  in  all 
IS  been  from 
1  discovery  by 
Eid  been  the 
I  wars.  The 
>  the  north, 
le  south,  be- 
the  Niagaras, 
irlike  people, 
)  absorbed  or 
fiercer  neigh- 
litcenth  cen- 
ame  extinct, 
n  the  French 


QEOGRAPIhCAL  AND  HISTORICAL.  3» 

and  English  and  settlers  was  carried  on  all  along  its  borders  for  more  than 
one  hundred  years.  These  ceased  finally  in  17G3,  French  rule  in  North 
America  becoming  yirtaally  extinct  after  the  capture  of  Quebec  by  Oen. 
Wolf,  in  1769. 

From  this  time  there  was  a  season  of  comparative  quiet  until  the  war  of 
1812  between  America  and  Great  Britain  set  the  country  again  into  a  ferment. 
Then,  all  along  the  river  banks  a  series  of  forts  were  erected ;  i.hese,  only  pali- 
sades at  first,  were  gradually  strengthened  into  permanent  strongholds,  stretch- 
ing from  Buffalo  to  Lake  Ontario.  Among  these  Buffalo  and  Fort  Niagara 
were  considered  the  American  Strongholds.  Fort  Erie  and  Qaeenstown 
Heights  those  of  the  British. 

Fort  Niagara  is  still  an  American  point  of  defence  regularly  garrisoned, 
situated  fourteen  miles  from  the  Falls  at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  La  Salle 
established  it  first  as  a  trading  post  in  1678.     In  1687  De  Nonville  built  the 


'•iwj-f^Ts' 


FOBT  MIAOAKA. 


first  fort  for  the  prosecution  of  a  war  upon  the  Iroquois  nation.  The  English 
General,  Prideanx,  was  killed  here  in  1769,  and  after  the  battle,  the  French 
surrendered  it  to  Sir  William  Johnson.  In  this  fort  is  the  dungeon,  where  in 
1824,  Morgan,  of  anti-masonio  fame,  was  said  to  have  been  confined,  and 
from  whence  it  was  claimed  he  was  taken  out  and  drowned  in  the  lake. 

The  war  between  America  and  England  ended  in  the  year  1814.  With  the 
re-establishment  of  peace  that  boundary  line  was  agreed  upon  which  now 
divides  the  United  States  from  Canada.  By  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  signed  in  1816, 
this  boundary  line  runs  through  the  centre  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  deep- 
est channel  of  the  river.  Over  three-fourths  of  the  islands  in  the  river  belong 
to  the  United  States.  Of  these  islands,  thirty-six  in  number,  Grand  Island  is 
the  largest,  and  Goat  Island  the  most  famous.  Goat  Island  being  famous  not 
only  as  the  point  from  which  the  finest  views  of  the  cataract  are  obtained,  but 
it  is  the  ground  on  which  the  Geologist  finds  many  proofs  for  his  theories  of 
the  retrocession  of  the  Falls. 


w 


NIAQARA  PARK  ILLUBTBATSD. 


GEOLOGICAL  ASSUMPTIONS. 

eEOLOOISTS  tell  that  retrocession  of  the  Falls  began  at  the  monntains, 
near  Lewiston;  the  blaff,  or  top  of  the  mountain  six  miles  below  the  Falls 
being  the  old  shore  of  Lake  Ontario.  The  premises  npon  which  this  conclu- 
sion is  based,  are  the  immense  erosive  powers  of  sand,  combined  with  moving 
waters ;  the  ages  which  these  forces  have  been  in  operation ;  the  fact,  that 
even  within  the  memory  of  the  present  generation,  the  Falls  hare  perceptibly 
receded,  and  that  finviatile  shells,  and  forms  of  marine  life  have  been  found 
imbedded  in  the  sand  and  gravel  of  Goat  Island  and  the  lower  river  bank, 
similar  to  those  which  are  now  found  in  the  Niagara  River  higher  up. 

This  deposit,  found  some  thirteen  feet  below  the  soil,  is  supposed  to  prove 
that  the  greater  part  of  Goat  Island  was  at  one  time  submerged..  Professor 
Lattimore  says  they  are  the  records  of  prehistoric  ages,  that  "  the  delicate  forms 
of  marine  life  which  so  abound  in  some  of  the  rooky  strata  plainly  indicate  their 
origin  at  the  bottom  of  a  shallow  and  semi-tropical  sea  which  once  must  have 
occupied  the  place.  The  great  chasm  is  newer  than  the  rocks  through  which 
the  river  has  ploughed  its  way,  and  it  is  plain  that  a  time  must  have  been 
when  the  riVer  itself  had  not  yet  taken  form.  Again,  ages  later,  the  same 
river  begins  to  fill  its  bed  with  alluvial  deposits,  and  again  it  destroys  its  own 
work,  leaving  only  the  gravelly  beds  of  Goat  Island,  and  the  curious  series  of 
terraces  still  happily  preserved  in  Prospect  Park,  as  fragmentary  monuments. 
Ilero  are  records  of  the  post,  antedating  all  human  history,  of  the  most  au- 
thentic character,  unfalsified  by  any  ignorant  or  designing  hand." 

Of  the  retrocession.  Sir  Charles  Lyell  is  of  opinion  "  from  a  mere  cursory 
inspection  of  this  district,  that  the  Niagara  once  flowed  in  a  shallow  valley 
across  the  whole  platform  from  the  present  site  of  the  Falls  to  the  Queenston 
heights,  where  it  is  supposed  the  cataract  was  first  situated,  and  that  the  river 
has  been  slowly  eating  its  way  backwards  through  the  rocks  for  a  distance  of 
seven  miles.  According  to  this  hypothesis,  the  Falls  must  have  had  originally 
nearly  twice  their  present  height,  and  must  have  been  always  diminishing  in 
grandeur  from  age  to  age,  as  they  will  continue  to  do  in  future  so  h)ng  as  the 
retrograde  movement  is  prolonged.  It  becomes,  therefore,  a  matter  of  no 
small  curiosity  and  interest  to  inquire  at  what  rate  the  work  of  excavation 
is  now  going  on,  and  thus  to  obtain  a  measul^  for  calculating  how  many 
thousands  of  years  or  centuries  have  been  required  to  hollow  out  the  chasm 
already  excavated." 

Sir  Charles  Lyell  set  at  work  to  answer  these  questions,  by  investigating 
thoroughly  the  rook  formations  of  Niagara.    A  short  excerpt  from  his  pub- 
lished results  is  given  on  the  following  pages,  in  which  he  seems  to  prove  coum 
dnsively  that  the  river  once  extended  farther  northwards,  at  a  level  suffi- 
ciently high  to  cover  the  greater  part  of  Goat  Island. 


I 


le  mountains, 
lelow  the  Falls 
iix  this  concla- 
1  with  moving 
the  fact,  that 
tTe  perceptibly 
re  been  found 
Br  river  bank, 
ler  up. 

losed  to  prove 
ed..  Professor 
delicate  forms 
r  indicate  their 
nee  must  have 
through  which 
lUst  have  been 
later,  the  same 
estroys  its  own 
irious  series  of 
■y  monuments. 
I  the  most  au- 
i." 

a  mere  cursory 
,  shallow  valley 
the  Queenston 
1  that  the  river 
)r  a  distance  of 
I  had  originally 
diminishing  in 
)  so  long  as  the 
^  matter  of  no 
:  of  excavation 
lug  how  many 
out  the  chasm 

ly  investigating 
from  his  pub- 
is to  prove  cou'A 
t  a  level  snffl- 


^■j. 


.y^f-- 


•^S^''   ,„«=fe<- 


>,;*'"''\^ 


BOOK  rOBXATIORB,  MtAOAKA. 


K3 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


GEOLOGICAL  EVIDENCE  OF  RETROCESSION. 

SIB  CHARLES  LYKLL. 


OK  ONO  before  my  visit  to  Niagara  T  had  been  informed  of  the  existence  on  Goat 
(^  Island  of  beds  of  gravel  and  sand  containing  fluviatile  shells,  and  some  ac- 
count had  been  given  of  these  by  Mr.  Hall  in  his  first  report  I  therefore  pro- 
posed to  him  that  we  should 
examine  these  carefully,  and 
see  if  we  could  trace  any 
remnants  of  the  same  along 
the  edges  of  the  river  cliff 
below  the  Falls. 

We  began  by  collecting  in 
Qoat  Island  shells  of  the 
genera  Unto,  Cyelas,  Me- 
lania,  Valvata,  Limnea, 
Planorhit  and  HdiXf  all 
of  recent  species,  in  the 
superficial  deposit  They  form  regular  beds,  and  numerous  individuals  of 
the  Unio  and  CycUu  have  both  their  valves  united.  We  then  found  the 
same  formation  exactly  opposite  to  the  Falls  on  the  top  of  the  cliff  (at  d, 
fig.  1)  on  the  American  side,  where  two  river  terraces,  one  twelve  and  tho 
other  twenty-four  feet  above  the  Niagara,  have  been  cut  in  the  modern 
deposits.  In  these  we  observed  the  same  fossil  shells  as  in  Goat  Island,  and 
learned  that  the  teeth  and  other  remains  of  a  mastadon,  some  of  which  wcro 
shown  us,  had  been  found  thirteen  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  soil.  We  were 
then  taken  by  our  guide  to  a  spot  further  north,  where  similar  gravel  and  sand 
with  fluviatile  shells  oc* 
currcd  near  the  edge 
of  the  cliff  overhanging 
the  ravine  resting  on 
the  solid  limestone.  It 
wab  about  half  a  mile 
below  the  principal  Fall, 
and  extended  at  some 
points  800  yards  inland, 
but  no  farther,  for  it 
was  then  bounded  by 
the  bank  of  uiore  an- 
cient drift  (/.  fig.  1). 
This  deposit  precisely 
occupies  the  place  which 

the  ancient  bed  and  alluvial  plain  of  the  Niagara  would  naturally  have  fiUea, 
if  the  river  once  extended  farther  northwards  at  a  level  sufficiently  high  ta 


I. 
a. 

4. 

«. 
f. 


WECftlOV  AT  KIAOABA  VALLS. 

UmMloMW  fact  thick. 

ShalcBOfMttUek. 

Vredi-intar  itrmU  on  Goat  Muid  abor*  SO  feet  thick. 

Sum  fonnatlaii  on  the  American  side,  conUUnlnc  bones  of  dim- 

tadon. 
Ledge  of  ban  Itmettone  on  the  Canada  aide. 

Ancient  drift. 


loeonOoafe 
d  some  ac- 
refore  pro- 
;  we  shonld 
«fnlly,  and 

trace  any 
same  along 

river  cliff 

oUecting  in 

till  of   the 

'yeUta,   Me- 

LimneOf 

naixy    all 

I,   in    the 

ividuals  of 

found  the 

cliff  (at  d, 

ve  and  the 

he  modern 

Island,  and 

which  were 

I.    We  were 

el  and  land 


nonon  or  goat  island  from  worth  to  booth 

1^  FHHT  IM  IiBHOTH. 

A    llMilTaoompMt  portion  of  thainwwaUmMtone. 

»■  udpw  thin  l)«dd«l  portion  of  the  Ntagw»UiMrtoiMrtr»to. 

iSghUftooUittdtotheionth. 
e.   Horteontia  fW*-w»»«  bodi  of  fr»Tel.  wnd  nnd  lo«n,  with 

D,«   PwwntwrfaooofthonwNlafMnatthoBnphto. 


34  2iIA0ABA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 

toxer  the  greater  part  of  Goat  Iriand.     At  that  period  the  ravine  could  not 
have  existed,  and    there   must  have  heen  a  harrier,  several   mijeajlowe'r 

down,  at  or  near  the  Whirl- 

North.  FiGtJBKa.  South.       pool. 

•e  The    supposed    oricjinal 

channel,  through  which  the 
waters    flowed   from   Lake 
Erie  to  Quoenstown  or  Lew- 
Iston,  was  excavated  chieflyif 
but  not  entirely,  in  the  su- 
perficial drift,  and  the  old 
river  banks  cut  in  this  drift 
are  still  to  be  seen  facing 
each  other,  on  both  sides  of 
the  ravine,  for  many  miles 
below  the  Falls.    A  section 
of  Goat  Wand  from  south  to  north,  or  parallel  to  the  course  of  the  Niagara 
IM  8).  shows  that  the  limestone  {B)  had  been  greatly  denuded  before  the 
fluviatile  beds  ie)  were  accumulated,  and  consequently  when  the  Falls  were 
several  miles  below  their  present  site.    From  this  fact  I  infer  that  the  slope  of 
the  river  at «-  Bapids  was  principally  due  to  the  original  shape  of  the  old 
channel,  and  not  aa  tome  have  conjectured  to  modern  erosions  on  the 

approach  of  the  Falla  to  the  spot.  .      ^     ^  „     •  +    ^ 

The  observations  mad?  in  1841  induced  me  in  the  following  year  to  re- 
examine  diligently  both  sides  of  the  river  from  the  Falls  to  Lewiston  and 
Quoenstown,  to  ascertain  if  any  other  patches  of  the  ancient  river  bed  had 
escaped  destruction.     Accord- 
ingly, following  first  the  edge  of 
the  olifb  on  the  eastern  bank, 
I  discovered,  with  no  small  de- 
light at  the  summer  house  {E, 
fig.  8)  above  the  Whlripool, 
a  bed  of  stratified  sand  and 
gravel,  forty  feet  thick,  con- 
taining fluviatile  shells  in  abun- 
dance. Fortunately  a  few  yards 
from  the  summer  honse  a  pit 
had  been  recently  dug  for  the 
cellar  of  a  new  honse  .to  the 
depth  of  nine  feet  in  the  shelly 
sand,  in  which  I  found  shells 
of  the  genera   Unio,  C^eUu, 
Melania,  Melix  and  Pupa,  not 
only  identical  in  species  with 
those  which  occur  in  a  fresh  state  in  the  bed  of  the  Niagara,  near  the 
ferry,  but  corresponding  also  in  the  proportionate  number  of  individuals 


FlOtIBB  8. 


SaCnOH  AT   TOB    B(«MBR  HOUSE  ABOVB  WHIRI<- 
P00I<,  CAST  BAKK  OF  lOAOASA. 

A.  ThlokbaddedUniMtone,aMneasntFaUa. 

».    Anolrat  drift. 

«.    BooMcnntbaw  of  rtoepbuk  formed  br  drift. 

d.    Vreih-weteritrata,  40  feet  thick. 


ine  oonld  not 

miles  lower 

)ar  the  Whirl- 

)ged    original 
igh  which  the 

from  Lake 
Btown  or  Lew- 
avated  ohiefljui 
ely,  in  the  su- 

and  the  old 
at  in  this  drift 
«  seen  facing 
n  both  aides  of 
or  many  miles 
Us.  A  section 
of  the  Niagara 
led  before  the 
the  Falls  were 
hat  the  slope  of 
lape  of  the  old 
rosions  on  the 

ing  year  to  re- 
)  Lewiston  and 
i  river  bed  had 


IB  ABOVE  WHHIL- 
tOAOAIU. 

ktFallt. 
mMd  by  drift. 


agara,  near  the 
tr  of  indiTidnals 


GEOLOaiCAL  EVIDENCE  OF  RETR00B88I0N. 


8S 


belonging  to  each  species,  that  of  Cyelas  aimilia,  for  example,  being  the  most 
numerous.  The  same  year  I  found  also  a  remnant  of  the  old  river  bed  on 
the  opposite  or  Canadian  side  of  the  river,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the 
Whirlpool,  or  two  miles  and  a  half  below  the  Falls.  Those  facts  appear 
conclusive  as  to  the  former  extension  of  a  more  elevated  valley,  four  miles 
at  least  below  the  Falls ;  and  at  this  point  the  old  river  bed  must  have  been 
so  high  as  to  be  capable  of  holding  back  the  waters  which  covered  all  the 
patches  of  fluviatile  sand  and  gravel,  including  that  of  Goat  Island.  As 
the  tableland  or  limestone  platform  rises  gently  to  the  north,  and  is  highest 
near  Qneonstown,  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  there  was  a  greater  fall 
Jn  the  Niagara  when  it 
6owed  at  its  higher  level 
than  now  between  Jjake 
Erie  and  the  Falls;  and 
according  to  this  view,  the 
old  channel  might  well 
have  furnished  the  requir- 
ed barrier. 

I  have  stated  that  on 
the  left,  or  Canadian  bank 
of  the  Niagara,  below  the 
Falls,  I  succeeded  in  de- 
tecting sand  with  fresh- 
water shells  at  one  point 
only,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  muddy  river.  The 
ledge  of  limestone  on  this 
side  is  usually  laid  bare, 
or  only  covered  by  vege- 
table mould  (as  at  e,  fig.  1),  

nntil    we    arrive    at    the  mn  mth's  holb. 

boulder  clay  (/,  fig.  1),  which  is  sometimes  within  a  few  yards  of  the  top  of 
the  precipice,  and  sometimes  again  retires  eighty  yards  or  more  from  it, 
being  from  twenty  to  fifty  feet  in  height. 

*  *  *  *  *  * 

There  is  also  a  notch  or  indentation,  called  the  "  Devil's  Hole,"  on  the 
right  or  eastern  side  of  the  Niagara,  half  a  mile  below  the  Whirlpool,  which 
deserves  notice,  for  there,  I  think,  there  are  signs  of  the  Great  Cataract 
having;  been  once  situated.  A  small  streamlet,  c%lled  the  "  Bloody  Run,'* 
itQva  a  battle  fought  there  with  the  Indians,  joins  the  Niagara  at  this  place, 
and  has  hollowed  out  a  lateral  chasm.  Ascending  the  great  ravine,  we  here 
see,  facing  us,  a  projecting  cliff  of  limestone,  which  stands  out  forty  feet 
beyond  the  general  range  of  the  river  cliff  below,  and  has  its  flat  summit  bare 
and  without  aoL'.,  just  as  if  it  had  once  formed  the  eastern  side  of  the  Great 
Fall 


1 


NIAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


A  FIRST  IMPRESSION. 


I 


DICKENS. 

fN  THE  morning  we  arrived  at  Buffalo,  and,  being  too  near  the  Great  Falls 
to  wait  patiently  anywhere  else,  we  set  off  by  the  train  at  nine  o'clock  ta 
Niagara.  It  was  a  miserable  day  ;  chilly  and  raw ;  a  damp  mist  falling ;  and 
the  trees  in  that  northern  region  quite  bare  and  wintry.  Whenever  the  train 
halted  I  listened  for  the  roar ;  and  was  constantly  straining  my  eyes  in  the 
direction  where  I  knew  the  Falls  must  be,  from  seeing  the  river  rolling  on  to- 
wards them ;  every  moment  expecting  to  behold  the  spray.  Within  a  few^ 
minatea  of  oar  stopping,  not  before,  I  saw  two  great  white  clouds  rising  up 
■lowly  and  majestically  from  the  depths  of  the  earth.  That  was  all.  At 
length  we  alighted  ;  and  then,  for  the  first  time,  I  heard  the  mighty  rush  of 
water,  and  felt  the  ground  tremble  underneath  my  fe^t.  The  bank  is  very 
steep,  and  was  slippery  with  rain  and  half-melted  ice.  I  hardly  know  how  I 
got  down,  but  I  was  soon  at  the  bottom,  and  climbing,  with  two  English  offi- 
cers who  were  crossing  and  had  joined  me,  over  some  broken  rocks,  deafened 
by  the  noise,  half  blinded  by  the  spray  and  wet  to  the  skin.  We  were  at  th& 
foot  of  the  American  Fall.  I  could  see  an  immense  torrent  of  water  tearing^ 
headlong  down  from  some  great  height,  but  had  no  idea  of  shape,  or  situation, 
or  anything  bat  vague  immensity.  When  we  were  seated  in  the  little  ferry- 
boat, and  were  crossing  the  swollen  river,  immediately  before  both  cataracts, 
I  began  to  feel  what  it  was :  but  I  was  in  a  manner  stunned,  and  unable  to- 
comprehend  the  vastness  of  the  scene.  It  was  not  until  I  came  on  Table  Bock,, 
and  looked — Great  Heaven,  on  what  a  fall  of  bright  green  water ! — that  it 
came  upon  me  in  its  fall  might  and  majesty. 

Then,  when  I  felt  how  near  to  my  Creator  I  was  standing,  the  first  effect,, 
and  the  enduring  one — instant  and  lasting — of  the  tremendous  spectacle,  was- 
Peace.  Peace  of  Mind,  tranquillity,  calm  recollections  of  the  Dead,  great 
thoughts  of  Eternal  Rest  and  Happiness:  nothing  of  gloom  or  terror.  Niag- 
ara was  at  once  stamped  upon  my  heart,  an  Image  of  Beauty ;  to  remaia 
there  changeless  and  indelible,  until  its  pulses  cease  to  beat,  for  ever. 

— Ah  ERIC  AK  Notes.. 


Great  Falls 

le  o'clock  ta 

'ailing;  and 

ver  the  train 

eyes  in  the- 

oiling  on  to> 

rithin  a  few 

ds  rising  np 

was  all.    At 

ighty  rush  of 

bank  is  very 

know  how  I 

English  offi> 

3ks,  deafened 

e  were  at  the- 

nrater  tearing^ 

or  situation, 

i  little  ferry- 

oth  cataracts, 

nd  unable  to- 

1  Table  Rock,. 

iter  ! — that  it- 

e  first  effect,, 
ipectacle,  was. 
I  Dead,  great 
error.  Niag- 
y ;  to  remain, 
ever. 
iiCAK  Notes.. 


FALL  OF  TABLE  ROCK. 

rN  olden  times 
Table   Kock 
on  the   Canada 
side  was  a  splen- 
did  crag   from 
which    the   eye 
could  take  in  at 
one  glance  the 
whole  of  the 
Falls.  It  was  one 
of  the  most  fam- 
ous points  about 
Niagara.    Its 
forms    and   di- 
mensions were 
very  large,  but 
have  been  chang- 
ed to  their  pres- 
ent  appearance 
through    fre- 
quent and  vio- 
lent disruptions. 
The    overhang- 
ing table  fell  in 
1850.    Emerson 
had  been  on  it 
only  the  day  be- 
fore. Fortunate- 
ly it  fell  at  noon 
when  few  peo- 
ple were  out  of 
doors,  and  at  the 
moment  no  one 
was  on  the  rock 
but  the   driver 

of  an  omnibus  who  had  taken  out  his  horses  to  feed  them  and  was  washing 
his  vehicle  on  the  edge  of  the  cliff.  He  heard  the  warning  crash  and  felt  the 
motion  of  the  falling  rock  just  in  time  to  escape.  The  vehicle  which  he  had 
been  cleansing  fell  into  the  abyss  and  no  trace  of  it  could  afterwards  be  seen. 
The  huge  mass  of  rock  which  fell  was  over  two  hundred  feet  long,  sixty  feet 
wide  and  one  hundred  feet  deep  where  it  separated  from  the  bank.  Now 
uU  that  is  left  of  the  far-famed  Table  Rock  is  a  narrow  lodge,  bordering  the 
bank  where  it  juts  and  close  to  the  Horseshoe  Fall,  but  from  it  the  grandest 
and  most  comprehensive  view  of  the  wide  sweep  of  the  Cataract  and  the 
Rapids  above  are  obtained. 


88 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


PILGRIMAGE  UNDER  THE  FALL. 


HAUKIET  MAHTIKEAU. 


(m 


HE  second  time  I  visited  Niagara  I  aooomplished  i.he 
feat  of  going  behind  the  Fall. 

We  had  a  stout  negro  for  a  guide.     He  took  me 
by  the  hand  and  led  me  through  the  spray.     I  pres- 
ently found  the  method  of  keeping  myself  ut  my  ease. 
It  was  to  hold  down  the  brim  of  my  hut  so  as  to  pro- 
tect my  eyes  from  the  dashing  waters,  and  to  keep 
my  mouth  shut.     With  these  precautions  I  could 
breathe  and  see  freely  in  the  midst  of   a  tumult  which 
would  otherwise  be  enough  to  extinguish  one's  being.    A 
hurricane  blows  up  from  the  cauldron;  a  deluge  drives  ut 
yoa  from  all  parts;  and  the  noise  of  both  wind  and  waters 
reverberated   from    the   cavern,   is    inconceivable.     Our 
jwth   was  sometimes  a  wet  lodge  of  rock,  just  broad 
enough  to  allow  one  person  at  a  Ume  to  creep  along;  in 
other  places  we  walked  over  hoaps  of  fragments  both 
slippery  and  unstable.     If  all  hnd  been  dry  and  quiet  I 
might  probably  have  thought  this  path  above  the  boiling 
basin  dangerous,  and  have  trembled  to  pass  it;  but  amidst 
the  hubbub  of  gusts  and  floods,  it  appeared  so  firm  a  foot- 
ing that  I  had  no  fear  of  slipping  into  the  cauldron.   From 
the  moment  that  I  perceived  that  we  were  actually  behind  the  cataract  and 
not  in  a  more  cloud  of  spray,  the  enjoyment  was  intense.    I  not  only  saiv  the 
watery  curtain  before  me  like  the  te^r'TCst  driven  snow,  but  by  momentary 
glances  could  see  the  crystal  roof  of  tLis  most  wonderful  of  nature's  palaces. 
The  precise  point  where  the  flood  quitted  the  rock  wrs  marked  by  a  gush 
of  silvery  light,  which  of  course  was  brighter  where  the  waters  were  shooting 
forward,  than  below  where  they  fell  perpendicularly.     There  was  light  enough 
to  see  one  another's  features  by,  and  even  to  give  a  shadow  to  the  side  of  the 
projecting  rock  which  bars  our  further  progress.      Whon  we  came  to  within 
a  few  paces  of  this  projoclion,  our  guide  by  a  motion  of  his  hand  forbade  my 
advancing  further.     But  it  was  no  time  and  place  to  be  stopped  by  anything 
but  the  impossible.    I  made  the  guide  press  himself  against  the  rock  and 
crossed  between  him  and  the  cauldron,  and  easily  gained  my  object,  laying  my 
hand  on  Termination  Rock.     Mrs.  F.  says  we  looked  like  three  gliding  ghosts 
when  her  anxious  eye  first  caught  our  forms  moving  behind  the  cloud.     She 
was  glad  enough  to  see  us,  for  some  one  passing  by  had  made  her  expect  us  at 
least  two  minutes  before  we  appeared.    Dripping  at  all  points  as  we  wore, 
we  scudded  under  the  rocks  and  up  the  staircase  to  our  dressing  rooms» 
after  which  we  wrote  our  names  among  those  adventurers  who  had  performe«l 
the  same  feat,  and  received  a  certificate  of  our  having  visited  Termination  Rock. 


nplished  <.he 

He  took  me 
ray.  I  pres- 
If  at  my  ease. 
80  as  to  pro- 
and  to  keep 
lona  I  could 
imult  which 
'b  being.  A 
uge  drives  ut 
d  and  waters 
ivable.     Our 

just  broad 
icp  along;  in 
gments  both 

and  quiet  I 
e  the  boiling 
t;  but  amidst 

0  firm  a  foot* 
Idron.   From 

cataract  and 
only  sa  .7  the 
y  momentary 
;nre's  palaces. 
:ed  by  a  gush 
nrere  shooting 
;  light  enough 
le  side  of  the 
%me  to  within 

1  forbade  my 
i  by  anything 
the  rock  and 
jct,  laying  my 
gliding  ghosts 
0  cloud.  She 
r  expect  us  at 
te  as  we  wore, 
Bssing  rooms, 
ad  performed 
lination  Rock. 


nLOBIMAOB  UMOBB  TBB  VAIX. 


1 


40 


JfJAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


ir 


NIAGARA. 

MRS.    8IQ0URNKT. 

BLOW  on  forever,  in  tbjr  f loriout  robe 
Of  terror  Md  of  bmntj :— Ten,  flow  on 
ithom'd  nnd  rtrirtlwe.-Ood  hnth  set 
Hit  mtnbow  en  thy  f  onhend :  nad  the  cloud 
Mnatted  uoond  tby  feet.— And  be  doth  give 
Thj  Tolce  of  thunder,  power  to  epetk  of  Him 
Etemelly.— Udding  the  lip  of  nuw 
Keep  iilenoe,--«id  upon  thy  rocky  altar  pour 
InoenM  of  nwe^truck  pralte. 

Ah  t  who  can  dare 
To  lift  the  inaect  trump  of  eartbly  hope, 
Or  lote,  or  aorrow,— inid  the  peal  •uhllme 
Of  thy  tremendoua  hynn  T    Even  Ocean  ahrinka 
Back  from  thy  brotherhood :  and  all  hie  wavea 
Betin  abaah'd.    For  he  doth  ■ometimea  seem 
To  aleep  like  a  apent  laborer,— and  recall 
Hia  wearied  biUowt  from  their  vexing  play 
And  lull  them  to  a  cradle  calm  :— but  thou, 
With  cverlaating,  undecaying  tide. 
Doth  rest  not,  night  or  day.— The  morning  atara, 
When  flrtt  they  sang  o'er  young  Creation's  birth. 
Heard  thy  deep  anthem,  and  thoae  wrecking  flies 
That  wait  the  archangel's  signal  to  dissolve 
This  solid  earth,  shall  find  Jehovah's  name 
Oimven,  as  with  a  thousand  diamond  speara 
On  thine  unending  volume. 

Every  leaf 
That  lifts  itself  within  thy  wide  domain. 
Doth  gather  greenneaa  from  thy  living  apray. 
Yet  tremble  at  the  baptiam.- Ix>  I  yon  birds 
Do  boldly  venture  near,  and  bathe  their  wing 
Amid  thy  mist  and  foam.    'Tia  m<et  for  them 
To  touch  thy  garment'a  hem,  and  U^tly  stir 
The  snowy  leaflets  of  thy  vapor  wreath, 
For  they  may  aport  unharmed  amid  the  cloud. 
Or  listen  a',  the  echoing  gate  of  heaven. 
Without  reproof.    But  as  for  us.  it  aeema 
Scarce  lawful,  with  our  broken  tonea,  to  apeak 
Familiarly  of  thee.— Methinka,  to  tint 
Thy  glorioas  features  with  our  pencil's  point, 
Or  woo  thee  to  the  toldet  of  a  aong 
Were  profanation. 

Thou  doet  make  the  soul 
A  wondering  witness  of  thy  majesty, 
But  as  it  presses  with  delirious  joy 
To  pierce  thy  vestibule,  doth  chain  its  step, 
Aud  tamp  ita  rapture,  with  the  humbling  view 
Of  iU  own  nothingness,  bidding  it  stand 
In  the  dread  presence  of  the  Invisible, 
As  if  to  answer  to  iU  Ood,  through  thee. 


jvjaoara  park  illubtbated. 


INDIAN  LEGENDS. 


The  Victim  cf  the  Falls. 

EW  are  tho  legends  con- 
nected with  Niagara,  and 
those  which  do  exist  arc  tragic 
and  solemn  in  their  character. 
The  early  Indians  looked  with 
too  much  awe  upon  this  migh- 
ty cataract  to  connect  it  in 
their  imagination  with  any 
thing  but  thb  terrible.  Its 
depths  to  them  contained  the 
Great  Spirit  of  the  Falls,  a 
Maniton  of  Evil  whom  they 
were  bound  to  propitiate  with  offerings  of  pipe*",  wampums,  and  trinkets. 

This  Spirit,  according  to  tradition,  exacted  annually  two  human  victims 
to  satisfy  his  cravings  for  earthly  blood.  In  addition  to  this  the  Indians 
used  every  summer  to  sacrifice  the  fairest  maiden  of  their  tribe,  sending  her 
to  glide  over  the  dreaded  brink  in  a  white  canoe,  filled  with  choicest  fruits 
and  flowers.  The  accompanying  engraving,  taken  firom  a  picture  by  Chas. 
Volkmar,  illustrates  this  rite.  It  is  also  embodied  in  another  form  in  the 
charming  poem  given  below  and  written  by  George  Houghton. 


Niagara. 

"  Here,  when  the  world  w«s  wreathed  with  the  scartet  and  gold  of  October, 
Here,  from  far-scattered  camps,  came  the  moccasincd  tribes  of  the  red-man, 
Left  in  their  tents  their  bows,  forgot  their  brawls  and  dissensions, 
Ringed  thee  with  peaceful  fires,  and  over  their  calumcU  pondered; 

"  Giose  from  thbir  fairest  virgins  the  fairest  and  purest  among  them, 
Hollowed  a  birchen  canoe,  and  fashioned  a  seat  for  the  virgin, 
Clothed  her  in  white,  and  sent  her  adrift  to  whirl  to  thy  bosom, 
Saying :  '  Receive  this  our  vow,  Niagara,  Father  of  Waters ! ' 

"  Lo  1  drifting  toward  us  approiK^es  n  curious  tangle  of  something  I 
White  and  untiliered  it  floaU,  bewitching  the  sigbt,  and  appearing 
Lilce  to  a  birchen  canoe,  a  virgin  crouched  pallid  within  it. 
Hastening  with  martyr  zeal  to  solve  the  unriddled  hereafter  I 

"  Slower  and  smoother  her  flight,  until  on  the  precipice  pausing, 
Jubt  for  the  space  of  a  breath  the  dread  of  the  change  seems  to  thrill  her; 
Crossing  herself,  and  seeming  to  shudder,  (she  lifts  eyes  to  heaven,— 
Sudden  a  mist  upwhtria^I  see  not— but  know  all  is  over." 

—  QeOROE  HoUGiOTON. 


ends  con- 
agara,  and 
aro  tragic 
character, 
toked  with 
this  migh- 
acct  it  in 
with    any 
rible.     Its 
tained  the 
Falls,  a 
rhom  they 
inkots. 
an  victims 
lie  Indians 
ending  her 
icest  frnits 
e  by  Chas. 
orm  in  th« 


>ber, 
d-man. 


yiAOAllA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


MY  VISIT   TO  NIAGARA. 

KATHAXIBfj  HA^VTHORXE. 

^^M  I^EVER  did  a  pilgrim  approach  Niagara  with  deeper  enthnsiasm 
^^  I  than  mine.  I  had  lingered  away  from  it,  and  wandered  to 
l^^k  I  other  Bcettos,  because  my  treasury  of  anticipated  enjoyments, 
A  ^^k  W  comprising  all  the  wonders  of  the  world,  had  nothing  else  so 
I  ^^J  magnificent,  and  I  was  loth  to  exchange  the  pleasures  of 
I  ^1^  hope  for  those  of  memory  so  soon.  At  length  the  day  came. 
I  The  stage  coach,  with  a  Frenchman  and  myself  on  the  back 

W  seat,  had  already  left  Lewiston,  and  in  leu  than  an  hoar 

would  set  us  down  in  Manchester.  I  began  to  listen  for  the  roar  of  the  cata- 
ract, and  trembled  with  a  sensation  like  dread,  as  the  moment  drew  nigh 
when  its  voice  of  ages  must  roll  for  the  first  time  on  my  ear.  The  French 
gentleman  stretched  himself  from  the  window,  and  expressed  loud  admiration, 
while,  by  a  sudden  impulse  I  threw  myself  back  and  closed  my  eyes.  When 
the  scene  shut  in,  I  was  glad  to  think,  that  for  me  the  whole  burst  of  Niagara 
was  yet  in  futurity.  We  rolled  on,  and  entered  the  Tillage  of  Manchester, 
bordering  on  the  Falls. 

I  am  quite  ashamed  of  myself  here.  Not  that  I  ran,  like  a  madman  to  the 
Falls,  and  plunged  into  the  thickest  of  the  spray — ^neyer.  stopping  to  breathe, 
till  breathing  was  impossible  :  not  that  I  committed  this  or  any  other  suitable 
extravagance.  On  the  contrary,  I  alighted  with  perfect  decency  and  compos- 
ure, gave  my  cloak  to  the  black  waiter,  pointed  out  my  baggage,  and  inquired 
not  the  nearest  way  to  the  cataract,  but  about  the  dinner  hoar.  The  interval 
was  spent  in  arranging  my  dress.  Within  the  last  fifteen  minutes,  my  mind 
had  grown  strangely  benumbed,  and  my  spirits  apathetic  witlna  slight  depres* 
sion,  not  decided  enough  to  bo  termed  sadness.  My  enthusiasm  was  in  a 
death-like  slumber.  Without  aspiring  to  immortality  as  he  did,  I  coald  have 
imitated  that  English  traveler,  who  turned  back  from  the  point  where  he  first 
hoard  the  thunder  of  Niagara,  after  crossing  the  ocean  to  behold  it.  Many  a 
Western  trader,  by  the  by,  has  performed  a  similar  act  of  heroism  with  more 
heroic  simplicity,  deeming  it  no  such  wonderful  feat  to  dine  at  the  hotel  and 
resume  his  route  to  Buffalo  or  Lewiston,  while  the  cataract  was  roaring  unseen. 
Such  has  often  been  my  apathy,  when  objects,  long  sought,  and  earn- 
estly desired,  were  placed  within  my  reach.  After  dinner — at  which  an  un- 
wonted and  perverse  epicurism  detained  me  longer  than  usual — I  lighted  a 
cigar  and  paced  the  piazza,  minutely  attentive  to  the  aspect  and  business  of 
a  very  Ordinary  village.  Finally  with  reluctant  step,  and  the  feeling  of  an 
intruder,  I  walked  towards  Goat  Island.  At  the  toll-house  there  were  further 
excuses  for  delaying  the  inevitable  moment  My  signature  was  required  in  a 
huge  lodger,  containing  similar  records  innumerable,  many  of  which  I  road. 
The  skin  of  a  great  sturgeon  and  other  fishes,  beasts  and  i-eptiles;  a  collection 
of  minerals,  such  as  lie  in  heaps  near  the  Falls ;  some  Indian  moccasins,  and 
other  trifles,  made  of  deer  skin,  and  embroidered  with  beads ;  sereml  news- 


MY  VISIT  TO  NIAGARA. 


45 


enthusiasm 

wandered  to 

enjoyments, 

thing  else  so 

pleasures  of 

le  day  came. 

on  the  back 

lan  an  hour 

of  the  cata- 

t  drew  nigh 

The  French 

admiration, 

eyes.    When 

Bt  of  Niagara 

Manchester, 

idman  to  the 
ig  to  breathe, 
)ther  suitable 

and  compos- 
and  inquired 

The  intenral 
tes,  my  mind 
Blight  depres- 
tsm  was  in  a 

I  could  have 
irbere  he  first 
.  it.  Many  a 
m  with  more 
the  hotel  nnd 
aring  unseen, 
t,  and  earn- 
irhich  an  un- 
— I  lighted  a 
I  business  of 
Feeling  of  an 

were  further 
required  in  a 
rhich  I  road. 
;  a  collection 
Dccosins,  and 
lercml  news- 


papers from  Montreal,  New  York  and  Boston;  all  attracted  me  in  turn.  Out 
of  a  number  of  twisted  sticks,  the  manufacture  of  a  Tuscarora  Indian,  I 
selected  one  of  curled  maple,  curiously  convoluted,  and  adorned  with  the  carved 
images  of  a  snake  and  a  fish.  Using  this  as  my  pilgrim's  staff,  I  crossed  the 
bridge.  Above  and  below  me  were  the  rapids,  a  river  of  impetuous  snow,  with 
here  and  there  a  dark  rock  amid  its  whiteness,  resisting  all  the  physical  fury, 
OS  any  cold  spirit  did  the  moral  influences  of  the  scene.  On  reaching  Goat 
Island,  which  separates  the  two  great  segments  of  the  Fnlls,  I  chose  the  right- 
hand  path,  and  followed  it  to  the  edge  of  the  American  cascade,  there,  while 
the  falling  sheet  was  yet  invisible,  I  saw  the  vapor  that  never  vanishes  and  the 
Eternal  Bainbow  of  Niagara. 


nuB  naav  BBiiN« 


TO  OOAT  ISLAND  AOBOSS  TSB 

(JtvMjMiiifiRf  4rd.  MMiriii  lan.) 


AMBBIOAX  BAnOS. 


It  was  an  afternoon  of  glorious  sunshine,  without  a  cloud,  save  those  of  the 
cataracts.  I  gained  an  insulated  rock,  and  beheld  a  broad  sheet  of  brilliant 
and  unbroken  foam,  not  shooting  in  a  curved  line  from  the  top  of  the  preci- 
pice, but  falling  headlong  down  from  height  to  depth.  A  narrow  stream  di- 
verged from  the  main  branch,  and  hurried  over  the  crag  by  a  channel  of  its 
own,  leaving  a  little  pine-clad  island  and  a  streak  of  precipice  between  itself 
and  the  larger  sheet.  Below  arose  the  mist,  on  which  wa>  painted  a  dazzling 
sunbow,  with  two  concentric  shadows — one,  almost  as  perfect  as  the  original 
brightness ;  and  the  other  drawn  faintly  round  the  broken  edge  of  the  cloud. 

Still  I  had  not  half  seen  Niagara.    Following  the  verge  of  the  island,  the 


NIAOABA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


path  led  me  to  the  Horseshoe,  where  the  real,  bfoad  St.  Lawrence,  rashing 
along  on  a  level  with  iti  banks,  poors  its  whole  breadth  over  a  concave  line  of 
precipice,  and  thence  parsaes  its  course  between  lofty  crags  towards  Ontario. 
A  sort  of  bridge,  two  or  three  feet  wide,  stretches  onfc  along  the  edge  of  the 
descending  sheet,  and  hangs  npon  the  rising  mist,  as  if  that  were  the  founda- 
tion of  the  frail  structure.  Here  I  stationed  myself  in  the  blast  of  wind, 
which  the  rushing  river  bore  along  with  it.  The  bridge  was  tremulous  be- 
neath me,  and  marked  the  tremor  of  the  solid  eaxth.  I  looked  along  the 
whitening  rapids,  and  endeavored  to  distinguish  a  mass  of  water  far  above  the 
Falls,  to  follow  it  to  their  verge,  and  go  down  with  it,  in  fancy,  to  the  abyss 
of  clouds  and  storm.  Casting  my  eye  across  the  river,  and  every  side,  I  took 
in  the  scene  at  a  glance,  and  tried  to  comprehend  it  in  one  vast  idea.  After 
an  hour  thus  spent  I  left  the  bridge,  and  by  a  stair-case,  winding  almost  in- 
terminably round  a  post,  descended  to  the  base  of  the  precipice.  From  that 
point  my  path  lay  down  slippery  stones,  and  among  great  fragments  of  the 
cliff,  to  the  edge  of  the  cataract,  where  the  wind  at  once  enveloped  me  in 
spray,  and  perhaps  dashed  the  rainbow  round  ma.  Were  my  long  desires 
fulfilled  ?  And  had  I  seen  Niagara  ?  Oh.  that  I  had  never  hmrd  of  Niagara 
till  I  beheld  it  I  Blessed  were  the  wanderers  of  old  who  heard  its  deep  roar, 
eonnding  through  the  woods,  as  the  summons  to  an  unknown  wonder,  and 
approached  its  awful  brink  in  all  the  freshness  of  native  feeling.  Had  its  own 
myiterions  voice  been  the  first  to  warn  me  of  its  existence,  then,  indeed,  I 
might  have  knelt  down  and  worshipped.  But  I  had  come  thither,  haunted 
with  a  vision  of  foam  and  fury,  and  dissy  cliffs,  and  an  ocean  tumbling  down 
out  of  the  sky — a  scene,  in  short,  which  nature  had  too  much  good  taste  and 
calm  simplicity  to  realize.  My  mind  had  struggled  to  adapt  these  false  con- 
ceptions to  the  reality,  and  finding  the  effort  vain,  a  wretched  sense  of  disap- 
pointment weighed  me  down.  I  climbed  the  precipice,  and  threw  myself  on 
the  earth — feeling  that  I  was  unworthy  to  look  at  the  Great  Falls,  and  care- 
less about  beholding  them  again. 

All  that  nighty.as  there  has  been  and  will  be  for  ages  past  and  to  come,  a  rush- 
ing sound  was  heard,  as  if  a  great  tempest  were  sweeping  through  the  air.  It 
mingled  with  my  dreams,  and  made  them  full  of  storm  and  whirlwind. 
Whenever  I  awoke,  and  heard  this  dread  sonnd  in  the  air,  and  the  windows 
rattling  as  with  a  mighty  blast,  I  conld  not  rest  again,  till  lookin^^  forth,  I  saw 
how  bright  the  stars  were,  and  that  every  leaf  in  the  garden  was  motionless. 
Never  was  a  summer  night  more  calm  to  the  eye,  nor  a  gale  of  autumn  louder 
to  the  ear.  The  rushing  sonnd  as  it  proceeds  from  the  rapids,  and  the  rattling 
of  the  casements  is  but  an  effect  of  the  vibration  of  the  whole  house,  shaken 
by  the  jar  of  the  cataract  The  noise  of  the  rapids  draws  the  attention  from 
the  true  voice  of  Niagara  which  is  a  dull  muffled  thunder  resounding  between 
the  cliffs.  I  spent  a  wakeful  hour  at  midnight,  in  distinguishing  its  reverber- 
ation and  rejoiced  to  find  that  my  former  awe  and  enthusiasm  were  reviving. 

Gradually,  and  after  much  contemptation,  I  came  to  know  by  my  own  feel- 
ings, that  Niagara  is  indeed  a  wonder  of  the  world,  and  not  the  less  wonderful 
because  time  and  thought  must  be  employed  in  comprehending  it 


loe,  rashing 
koave  line  of 
rda  Ontario. 
eAgfi  of  the 
the  foan<1a- 
ust  of  wind, 
emoIouB  be- 
d  along  the 
ar  above  the 
to  the  abyss 
side,  I  took 
idea.    After 
almost  in* 
From  that 
aents  of  the 
loped  me  in 
long  desires 
d  of  Niagara 
ts  deep  roar, 
wonder,  and 
Had  its  own 
^n,  indeed,  I 
her,  haunted 
mbling  down 
M>d  taste  and 
Bse  false  con- 
mse  of  disap- 
}w  myself  on 
Us,  and  oare- 

come,  a  msh- 
li  the  air.  It 
d  whirlwind. 

the  windows 
li,  forth,  I  saw 
ts  motionless, 
itamn  loader 
d  the  rattling 
lonse,  shaken 
ttention  from 
tding  between 
J  its  reverber- 
ere  reyiving. 

my  own  feel- 
less  wonderfal 
it 


PROSntCT  POlkT. 


48 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED^ 


AMERICAN  RAPIDS  ABOVE  THE  PALLS. 


K.    P.   WILLIS. 

HE  Rapids  are  fwr  from  being  the  least  interesting  feature  of 
Niagara.  There  is  a  violence  and  a  power  in  their  foaming 
career,  which  is  seen  in  no  phenomenon  of  the  same  class. 
Standing  on  the  bridge  which  connects  Goat  Island  with  the 
Main,  and  looking  np  towards  Lake  Erie,  the  leaping  crest» 
of  the  Rapids  form  the  horizon,  and  it  seems  like  a  battle 
charge  of  tempestuous  waves,  animated  and  infuriated  against  the  sky. 

No  one  who  has  not  seen  this  spectacle  of  turbulent  grandeur  can  conceive 
with  what  force  the  swift  and  overwhelming  waters  are  flung  npwurds. 
The  rocks,  whoae  soaring  points  show  above  the  surface,  seem  tormented 
with  some  supernatural  agony,  and  fling  off  the  wild  and  hurried  waters,  aa 
if  with  the  force  of  a  giant's  arm.  Nearer  the  plunge  of  the  Ffdl,  the  Rapids 
become  still  more  agitated ;  and  it  is  almost  impossible  for  the  spectator 
to  rid  himself  of  the  idea,  that  they  are  conscious  of  the  abyss  to  which  they 
are  hurrying,  and  struggle  back  in  the  very  extremity  of  horror. 

This  propensity  to  invest  Niagara  with  a  soul  and  human  feelings  is  a, 
common  effect  upon  the  minds  of  visitors,  in  every  part  of  j*s  wonderful 
phenomena.  The  torture  of  the  Rapids,  the  clinging  curves  with  which 
they  embrace  the  small  rocky  islands  that  live  amid  the  surge,  the  sudden 
calmness  at  the  brow  of  the  cataract,  and  the  infernal  writhe  and  whiteness 
with  which  they  reappear,  powerless  from  the  depths  of  the  abyss,  all  seem, 
to  the  excited  imagination  of  the  gaser,  like  the  natural  effects  of  impending 
ruin,  desperate  resolution,  and  fearful  agony,  on  the  minds  and  frames  of 

mortals. 

During  the  Canadian  war  of  1814,  General  Putnam,  the  famous  partisaa 
soldier,  made  the  first  descent  upon  Goat  Island.  A  wager  had  been  laid, 
that  no  man  in  the  army  would  dare  to  cross  the  Rapids  from  the  American 
side ;  and  with  the  personal  daring  for  which  he  was  ]remairkable,  above  all 
the  men  of  that  trying  period,  he  undertook  the  feat  Selecting  the  four 
stoutest  and  roost  resolute  men  in  his  corps,  he  embarked  in  a  batteau  just 
above  the  island,  and  with  a  rope  attached  to  the  ring-bolt,  which  was  held 
by  as  many  muscular  fellows  on  the  shore,  he  succeeded  by  desperate  rowing 
in  reaching  his  mark.  He  most  easily  towed  back,  and  the  feat  has  since 
been  rendered  unnecessary  by  the  construction  of  the  bridge  ffom  the  maia 
land  to  Goat  Island. 


THE   UPPER   RAPIDS. 


S. 


g  feature  of 
leir  foaming 
same  class, 
.nd  with  the 
aping  crests 
ike  a  battle 
esky. 

can  conceive 
ig  upwards, 
tormented 
)d  waters,  as 
,  the  Rapids 
he  ■pootator 
0  which  they 

feelings  is  a. 
^s  wonderfnl 
with  which 
I,  the  sudden 
nd  whitenesa 
fn,  all  seem, 
)f  impending 
ad  frames  of 

ions  partisan 
id  been  laid, 
the  American 
ble,  above  all 
king  the  four 
\  mtteau  just 
ich  was  held 
lerate  rowing 
eat  has  since 
om  the  maia 


.OEOROE   HOUOHTOX. 


(TILL,  with  the  wonder  of  boyhood,  I  follow  the  race  of  the  Rapids, 
Biiens  that  dance,  and  allure  to  deatruction,— now  lurking  in  shadows, 
Skirting  the  level  stilloesa  of  pools  and  the  treacherous  shallows, 
Smiling  and  dimple-mouihed,  coquetting,— now  inoduht,  now  forward; 

Tenderly  chanting,  and  such  the  thrall  of  the  weird  incantation. 
Thirst  it  awakes  in  each  liHtener's  soul,  u  feverish  longing. 
Thoughts  all  ahsorhant,  a  torment  that  stings  and  ever  increases. 
Burning  ambiiiun  to  push  bare-breast  to  thy  perilous  bosom. 

Thus,  in  some  midnight  obscure,  bent  down  by  the  storm  of  temptation 
(So  bath  the  wind,  in  the  beechen  wood,  confided  the  story). 
Pine-trees,  thrusting  their  way  and  trampling  down  one  another. 
Curious,  lean  and  listen,  replying  in  sobs  and  in  whispers; 


▲WCBICAH  BAPIOS  ABOVB  THB  rALIA 

Till  of  the  secret  poaseued,  which  brings  f  are  blight  to  the  hearer, 
(So  hath  the  wind,  in  the  beechen  wood,  confided  the  atorv). 
Faltering,  they  stagger  brinkward,— clutch  at  the  roots  of  the  grasses. 
Cry,— a  pitiful  cry  of  remorse,— and  plunge  down  in  the  darkness. 

Art  thou  all-mercileas  then.— a  fiend,  ever  fierce  for  new  victinu  T 
Was  then  the  red-man  right  (as  yet  it  liveth  in  legend). 
That,  ere  eadi  twelvemonth  circles,  still  to  thy  shrine  is  allotted 
Blood  of  one  human  heart,  as  sacrifice  due  and  demanded  ? 

Butterflies  have  I  followed,  that  leaving  the  red-top  and  clover. 
Thinking  a  wind-harp  thy  voice,  thy  froth  the  fresh  whitenen  of  daisies. 
Ventured  too  cloae.  grew  giddy,  and  catching  cold  drops  on  their  pinions, 
Balanced— but  vainly,— and  fulling,  their  scarlet  was  blotted  forever. 


M 


MAG  AHA   I'AltK  JLLUSTRATHD. 


THE   MAID  OF   THE   MIST. 


GEO.    W.    HOLLEY. 


^N  the  year  1854,  a  small  steumer  was  built  to  run  up  to  the  Falls.  She  »ras 
(^  named  "  The  Maid  of  the  Mist,"  and,  as  she  took  passengers  from  both 
sides  of  the  river,  many  thousands  of  persons  made  the  exciting  and  im- 
pressive voyage.  To  many  persons  there  was  a  fascination  about  it  that  in- 
duced them  to  make  the  trip  every  time  they  had  an  opportunity  to  do  so. 
Owing  to  some  change  in  her  appointments  which  confined  her  to  the 
Canadian  shore  for  the  reception  of  passengers,  she  became  unprofitable. 
Uer  owner,  having  decided  to  leave  the  neighborhood,  wished  to  sell  her  as 
she  lay  at  her  dock.  This  he  could  not  do,  but  he  received  an  offer  of 
something  more  than  half  of  her  cost  if  he  would  deliver  her  at  Niagara, 
opposite  the  fort.  This  he  decided  to  do,  after  consultation  with  Robinson, 
who  had  acted  as  her  captain  and  pilot  on  her  trips  below  the  Falls.  Mr. 
Bobinson  agreed  to  act  as  pilot  for  the  fearful  voyage,  and  the  engineer, 
Mr.  Jones,  consented  to  go  with  him.  A  courageous  machinist,  Mr. 
Mclntyre,  volunteered  to  share  the  risk  with  them. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  June  15,  1861,  the  engineer  took 
his  place  in  the  hold,  and,  knowing  that  their  flitting  would  be  short  at  the 
best,  and  might  be  only  the  preface  to  swift  destruction,  set  his  steam  valve 
at  the  proper  gauge,  and  awaited — not  without  anxiety— the  tinkling  signal 
that  should  start  them  on  their  flying  voyage.  Mclntyre  joined  Robinson 
at  tha  wheel  on  the  upper  deck.  Sel£-possessed,  and  with  the  calmness 
which  results  from  undoubting  courage  and  confidence,  yet  with  the  humility 
which  recognizes  all  possibilities,  with  downcast  eyes  and  firm  hands,  Robin- 
son took  his  place  at  the  wheel  and  pulled  the  starting  bell.  With  a  shriek 
from  her  whistle  and  a  white  puff  from  her  escape-pipe,  the  boat  ran  up  the 
eddy  a  short  distance,  then  swung  round  to  the  right,  cleared  the  smooth 
water,  and  shot  like  an  arrow  into  the  rapid  under  the  bridge.  Robinson  in- 
tended to  take  the  inside  curve  of  the  rapid,  but  a  fierce  cross-current  carried 
him  to  the  outer  curve,  and  when  a  third  of  the  way  down  it  a  jet  of  water 
struck  against  her  rudder,  a  column  dashed  up  under  her  starboard  side, 
heeled  her  over,  carried  away  her  smoke-stack,  started  her  overhang  on  that 
side,  threw  Robinson  flat  on  his  back,  and  thrust  Mclntyre  against  her  star- 
board wheel-house  with  such  force  as  to  break  it  through.  Every  eye  was 
fixed,  every  tongue  was  silent,  and  every  looker-on  breathed  freer  as  she 
emerged  from  the  fearful  baptism,  shook  her  wounded  sides,  slid  into  the 
Whirlpool,  and  for  a  moment  rode  again  on  an  even  keel.  Robinson  rose  at 
once,  seized  the  helm,  and  set  her  to  the  right  of  the  large  pot  in  the  pool, 
then  turned  her  directly  through  the  neck  of  it.  Thence,  after  receiving 
another  drenching  from  its  combing  waves,  she  dashed  on  without  further 
accident,  to  the  quiet  bosom  of  the  river  below  Lewiston.  Thus  was  accom- 
plished one  of  the  most  remarkable  and  perilous  voyages  ever  made  by  men. 


lU.  She  nras 
ra  from  both 
ing  and  im- 
it  it  that  in- 
ity  to  do  so. 
her  to  the 
anprofltable. 
;o  sell  her  as 
I  an  offer  of 
r  at  Niagara, 
ith  Robinson, 
0  Falls.  Mr. 
;he  engineer, 
lohinist,    Mr. 

mgineer  took 

short  at  the 
8  steam  valve 
inkling  signal 
n6d  Robinson 

the  calmness 
li  the  humility 
hands,  Robin- 
With  a  shriek 
oat  ran  up  the 
3d  the  smooth 

Robinson  in- 
iurrent  carried 
i  a  jet  of  water 
itarboard  side, 
Brhang  on  that 
Etinst  her  star- 

Every  eye  was 
d  freer  as  she 
,  slid  into  the 
tbinson  rose  at 
>t  in  the  pool, 
after  receiving 
without  further 
us  was  accom- 
aade  by  men. 


I 

I 


UkTD  or  THB  MIST. 


NIAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


SENSATIONS. 

CHARLKS  MAOKBT. 

*AIAOABA  bewilder!  the  lenaei  of  the  too  pMsionate  admiren  of  its 
J^  besnty.  Maoy  are  the  tragical  itories  which  are  recoanted  of  the 
fair  girla,  the  yonng  brides,  and  the  poetic  louls  who  have  throwi.  themselTea 
into  the  torrent  for  the  apeechleaa  love  they  bore  it,  and  floated  into  death 
on  its  terrific  but  beautiful  bosom.  *  *  *  *  It  is  a  long  time  before  the 
finite  senses  of  any  human  being  can  grasp  the  full  glory  of  this  spectacle. 
I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  reached  a  satisfactory  comprehension  of  it.  I  only 
know  that  I  gazed  sorrowfully,  and  yet  glad,  and  that  I  understood 
thoroughly  what  was  meant  by  the  ancient  phrase  of  "  spell-bound ;"  that  I 
knew  what  fascination,  witchcraft,  and  glamour  were ;  and  that  I  made  full 
allowances  for  the  madness  of  any  poor,  weak,  excited  human  creature,  who, 
in  a  moment  of  impulse  or  frenzy,  had  thrown  himself  or  herself  headlong 
into  that  too  beautiful  and  too  entrancing  abyss. 

When  the  first  sensations  of  mingled  awe  and  delight  hare  been  somewhat 
dulled  by  familiarity  with  the  momentous  majesty  so  suggestive  of  infinite 
power,  and  so  like  an  emblem  of  eternity — though  impossible  for  man's  art 
to  picture  it  under  such  a  symbol — the  eye  takes  pleasure  in  looking  at  the 
minutin  of  the  flood.  The  deep  slaty-green  color  of  the  river,  curdled  by 
the  impetus  of  the  Fall  into  masses  of  exquisite  whiteness,  is  the  first 
peculiarity  that  excites  attention.  Then  the  shapes  assumed  by  the  rushing 
waters — shapes  continually  Taryiug  as  each  separate  pulsation  of  the  Rapids- 
above  produces  a  new  embodiment  in  the  desccnfling  stream— charms  the  eye 
with  fresh  wonder.  Sometimes  an  avalanche  of  water,  striking  on  a  partially 
hidden  shelf  or  rook  half-way  down  the  precipice,  makes  a  globular  and 
mound-like  surge  of  spray ;  and  immediately,  afterwards,  a  similar  down  flow, 
beating  on  the  very  same  point,  is  thrown  upwards  almost  to  the  level  of  the 
Upper  Niagara,  in  one  long,  white,  perpendicular  column.  Gently,  yet 
majestically,  it  reaches  the  lower  level  by  its  own  iudcpendent  impetus, 
without  being  beholden  to  the  gravity  of  the  sympathetic  stream,  from  which 
it  has  been  so  rudely  dissevered.  And  then  the  rainbows !  No  pen  can  do 
justice  to  their  number  and  their  loveliness.  No  simile  but  the  exquisito 
one  of  Byron  at  the  Italian  waterfall — which  compared  with  Niagara  is  but  a- 
blade  of  grass  to  some  oaken  monarch  of  the  woods— can  adequately  render 
the  idea  of  any  spectator  who  has  a  soul  for  natural  beauty  as  he  gases  on  the 
spectacle  of  such  an  Iris  as  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  behold —  ^ 

"Love  watehing  nudiwss  wtth  nnalteraUe  mein  I" 

But  the  sensations  of  one  man,  are  not  the  sensations  of  another.  To  one, 
Niagara  breathes  turbulence  and  unrest ;  to  another  it  whispers  peace  and  hope. 
To  one  it  speaks  of  eternity ;  to  another  of  time.  To  the  geologist  it  opcna^ 
up  the  vista  of  millions  of  years ;  while  to  him  who  knows  nothing  or  cares- 
nothing  lor  the  marvels  of  that  science,  it  but  sings  in  the  wilderness  a  new  song^ 
by  a  juvenile  orator  only  six  thousand  yean  old.  But  to  me,  if  I  can  epito- 
mise my  feeling!  in  four  words,  Kiagar*  spoke  joy,  peace,  order,  and  eternity. 


HERMIT'S  CASCADE. 


nireri  of  its 
nted  of  the 
I.  themselTes 
d  into  death 
ne  before  the 
bis  spectacle. 
>f  it.  I  only 
understood 
md;"  that  I 
it  I  made  full 
reature,  who, 
lelf  headlong 

wn  somewhat 
79  of  infinite 
for  man's  art 
>oking  at  the 
r,  curdled  bj 

is  the  first 
7  the  rushing 
of  the  Bapids 
larms  the  eye 
on  a  partially 
globular  and 
lar  down  flow, 
e  level  of  the 

Gently,  yet 
lent  impetus, 
I,  from  which 
ro  pen  oan  do^ 
the  exquisite 
agara  is  but  »■ 
[uately  render 
)  gases  on  the 


lier.  To  one, 
ooe  and  hope, 
ogist  it  opcno^ 
bing  or  oarca 
iss  a  new  song^ 
f  I  can  epito- 
and  eternity.. 


I^^BTWIXT  Ooat  Island  and  the  flnt 
Sister  Island  Bridge  is  the  Hermii's 
Cascade,  a  lovely  sheet  of  water 
which  derives  its  name  from  its 
having  been  the  favorite  resort  of 
Francis  Abbot,  known  as  the  young 
Hermit  of  the  Falls. 

The  story  of  Francis  Abbot  is  as 
romantic  as  the  scenery  which  bears 
his  name.    The  son  of  an  English 
clergyman,  he  visited  Niagara  for 
the  first  time  in  the  summer  of 
1820.    So  deeply  was  he  impressed 
by  the  sublimity  of  the  Falls  that  his  original 
intention  of  remaining  one  week  was  extended 
to  six,  that  he  might  examine  them  more  accu- 
rately.   At  the  end  of  that  period,  still  unable  to 
tear  himself  away,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  an  old  house 
upon  the  island  of  the  Three  Sisters.     This  he  rendered  as 
comfortable   as   his   circumstances  would   admit,  or  as  was 
necessary  for  one  who,  from  the  first,  had  studiously  shunned  the  society 
of  mankind. 

Who  the  young  stranger  was  had  been  matter  for  much  conjecture.  His 
features  were  comely  and  attractive,  and  his  bearing  was  quiet,  studious  and 
gentlemanly.  As  a  large  portfolio,  books,  violin,  flute  and  guitar  were  among 
his  possessions,  many  supposed  him  to  be  an  artist  This  idea  was  confirmed 
by  the  rare  skill  with  which  he  performed  upon  these  various  instruments. 
But  though  music  appeared  to  be  his  favorite  pursuit,  he  was  also  learned 
in  the  languages,  sciences,  and  art  of  drawing.  He  also  wrote  a  great  deal, 
and  a  singularity  was  that  all  his  compositions  were  written  in  Latin,  and 
destroyed  as  soon  as  they  were  finished. 

For  twenty  months  this  eccentric  being  lived  in  a  deserted  house  upon 
one  of  the  Three  Sisters  Islands  a  life  of  almost  total  seclusion ;  then  as  the 
family  to  whom  it  belonged  returned,  he  quietly  withdrew,  removing  to  a 
place  near  Prospect  Point  Here  he  lived  for  a  short  tine  such  a  life  as 
Thorean  would  have  loved.  The  roof  that  sheltered  him  was  the  work  of 
his  own  hands.  Whatever  food  he  required  outside  of  his  daily  diet  of  bread 
and  milk  he  prepared  himself.  He  seldom  and  sparingly  admitted  the 
intercourse  of  man,  and  this  evidently  not  from  a  feeling  of  moroseness  or 
misanthropy,  as  he  was  uniformly  kind  and  gentle  with  all,  but  influenced 
by  a  sentiment  which  made  him  love  not  mankind  less  but  nature  more. 

58 


•4  yiAOARA  PARK  ILLVSTRAT^D. 

As  with  the  Amoricttn  Thuroau,  a  froo  cummiinion  with  the  spiritt  of  llie 
waters  and  tho  woods  was  the  absorbing  delight  of  his  existence.  It  was  his 
habit  to  watch  tiie  BmuUeat  animals  so  as  to  detect  their  secrets.  Birds 
seemed  to  recognize  him  instinctively,  and  came  to  him  freely  to  receive 
food  from  his  hands.  On  Ooat  Island  at  all  honri  of  the  day  and  night  ho 
could  be  seen  wandering  through'  unfrequented  paths  to  watch  tho  mighty 
Niagara  from  every  point  of  view.  Neither  the  heat  of  summer  nor  the 
piercing  cold  of  winter  st^^yed  his  feet  from  going  where  the  cataract 

"  In  deafenlag  sweep 
Oltdled  with  rainbows,  thunders  down  the  steep." 

He  had  worn  a  beaten  path  from  his  cottage  to  Terrapin  Bridge.  At  that 
time  a  single  shaft  of  timber  eight  inches  square,  jutted  out  ten  feet  from 
the  bridge  over  the  precipice.  On  this  it  was  his  pleasure  to  sit  sometimes 
carelessly  on  the  extreme  edge,  or  grasping  it  with  his  hands  suspend, 
himself  over  the  fathomless  abyss.  To  this  point  he  would  pass  or  repass  at 
all  hours  of  the  night,  apparently  undisturbed  by,  the  slightest  tremor  of 
nerve,  certainly  without  any  hesitancy  of  step. 

A  bold  swimmer  and  passionately  fond  of  bathing,  he  had  scooped  out  and 
arranged  for  himself  a  secluded  and  romantic  bath,  between  Moss  and  Iris 
islands.  Here  it  was  his  habit  to  bathe  daily,  even  after  the  severity  of  the 
weather  hod  rendered  it  imprudent  for  the  most  robust  to  venture  into  the 
water.  He,  however,  escaped  with  impunity  until  one  bright  and  chilly 
day  in  June,  1831,  when  having  gone  from  his  accustomed  bathing  place  to  a 
spot  below  the  principal  Fall,  an  attack  of  cramp  must  have  seized  the 
unfortunate  man,  as  he  never  emerged  from  the  waters  alive. 

A  man  employed  at  the  Ferry  had  seen  him  go  into  the  water,  and  as  his 
clothes,  after  some  time  were  still  lying  upon  the  bank,  inquiry  was  made 
and  a  search  instituted.  His  body  was  found  below  the  Whirlpool.  Tepderly 
the  finders  bore  the  weary  dead  bock  to  his  desolate  cottage.  Here  they 
found  his  faithful  dog  guarding  the  door,  and  the  kitten,  which  he  had  petted, 
watching  by  his  pillow.  The  table  was  spread  with  a  frugal  meal  which  had 
been  prepared  against  his  return  from  his  fatal  bath.  Of  the  books  which 
lay  beside  the  food,  one  was  open  as  if  for  immediate  use.  A  chair  at  the 
foot  of  the  bed  held  an  open  mubic  book  and  his  violin,  just  as  he  had  left 
them ;  tho  music  his  own  bow  had  drawn,  was  evidently  the  last  sound  he 
had  heard  on  earth  except  the  thunder  of  the  Falls. 

What  was  the  cause  of  the  seclusion  from  society  of  this  accomplished 
being  will  never  bo  known.  An  examination  of  his  room  disclosed  that  he 
hod  destroyed  all  manuscripts  leading  to  a  discovery  of  his  identity.  Nothiug^ 
further  could  be  obtained  than  that  he  was  a  native  of  England,  and  his  father 
a  clergyman,  who  sent  him  remittances  of  money  ample  enough  to  insure  his 
comfort.  Thus  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years  tho  Hermit  of  the  Falls  was  buried 
by  strangers  in  a  strange  land.  But  his  enthusiasm  for  the  scenery  amid  which 
he  lived  and  died,  has  giveh  him  an  immortality  he  would  otherwise  have  failed 
to  obtain.  Through- the  centuries,  the  cascade  that  has  been  dedicated  to  him 
will  recall  his  name  and  story  to  all  who  visit  the  Falls  of  Niagara. 


piriti  of  tlie 

It  was  Ilia 

srets.     Birds 

to  receive 

nd  night  ho 

tho  mighty 

mer  nor  the 

net 


0.  At  t)iat 
3n  feet  from 
it  sometimes 
nds  saspend 
I  or  repass  at 
it  tremor  of 

oped  out  and 
[oss  and  Iris 
verity  of  the 
ture  into  the 
it  and  chilly 
ng  place  to  a 
e  seized  the 

it,  and  as  hia 
ry  was  made 
•1.  Tepderly 
Here  they 
e  had  petted, 
al  which  had- 
books  which 
chair  at  the 
9  he  had  left 
ost  sound  he 

uscomplished 
osed  that  he 
ty.  Xothing^ 
ad  his  father 
to  insure  his 
[Is  was  buried 
f  amid  which 
so  have  failed 
oated  to  him 


56 


KJAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


CHARM  OF   NIAGARA. 


ANTHONY  XBOLLOPK. 


«HE  greatest  charm  of 'a  mountain  range  is  the  wild  feeling  that  there  must 
be  strange  unknown  worlds  in  those  far  off  valleys  beyond.  And  so  hero 
at  Niagara,  that  converging  rush  of  waters,  may  fall  down  at  once  into  a  hell 
of  rivers  for  what  the  eye  can  sec.  It  is  glorious  to  watch  them  in  their  first 
curve  over  the  rooks.  They  come  green  as  a  bank  of  emeralds,  but  with  a  fit- 
ful flying  color,  as  though  conscious  that  in  one  moment  more  they  would  be 
dashed  into  spray  and  rise  into  air  pale  as  driven  snow.  The  v^por  rises 
high  into  the  air,  and  is  gathered  there  visible  always  as  a  permanent  white 
cloud  over  the  cataract;  but  tiie  bulk  of  the  spray  which  fills  the  lower  hollow 
of  that  Horseshoe  is  like  a  tumult  of  snow.  *  *  *  *  The  bend  of  it  rises 
ever  and  anon  out  of  that  cauldron  below,  but  the  cauldron  itself  will  be  in- 
visible. It  is  ever  so  far  down — far  as  your  own  imagination  can  sink  it.  But 
your  eyes  will  rest  full  upon  the  chasm  of  waters.  The  shape  you  will  bo 
looking  at  is  that  of  a  horseshoe,  but  of  a  horseshoe  miraculously  deep  from 
toe  to  heel,  and  the  depth  becomes  greater  as  you  watch  it.  That  which  at 
first  wus  only  great  and  beautiful  becomes  gigantic  and  sublime,  till  the  mind 
is  at  a  loss  to  find  an  epithet  for  its  own  use.  To  realize  Niagara  you  must 
sit  there  till  you  see  nothing  else  than  that  which  you  have  come  to  see,  you 
will  hear  nothing  else,  and  think  of  nothing  else.  At  length  you  will  be  at 
one  with  the  tumbling  river  beforo  you,  you  will  find  yourself  among  the 
waters  as  though  you  belonged  to  them.  The  cool  liquid  green  will  run 
through  your  veins,  and  the  voice  of  the  cataract  will  be  the  expression  of 
your  own  heart.  You  will  fall  as  the  bright  waters  fall,  rushing  down  into 
your  new  world  with  no  hesitation,  and  no  dismay ;  and  you  will  rise  again 
as  the  spray  rises,  bright,  beautiful  and  pure.    Then  you  will'  flow  away  in 

your  course  to  the  unoonfined,  distant  and  eternal  ocean. 

*  *  *  *  *  *  • 

Of  all  the  sights  on  this  earth  of  ours  which  tourists  travel  to  see — at  least 
all  of  those  which  I  hare  secn^ — I  am  inclincdito  give  the  palm  to  the  Falls  of 
Niagara.  In  the  catalogue  of  such  sights,  I  intend  to  include  all  buildings, 
pictures,  statues  and  wonders  of  art  made  by  men's  hands,  and  also  all  beauties 
of  nature  prepared  by  the  Creator  for  tho  delight  of  his  creatures.  This  is  a 
long  word;  but  as  fur  aa  my  taste  and  judgment  go,  it  is  justified.  I  know  no 
other  one  thing  so  beautiful,  so  glorious  and  so  powerful.  At  Niagara  there 
is  the  full  of  waters  alone.  But  that  fall  is  more  graceful  thau  Giotto's 
tower,  more  noble  than  the  Apollo.  The  peaks  of  tho  Alps  are  not  so  as- 
tounding in  their  solitude.  The  valleys  of  the  Blue  Mountains  in  Jamaica 
are  less  gireen.  The  finished  glaze  of  life  in  Paris  is  less  invariable;  and  the 
full  tide  of  trade  round  the  Bank  of  England  is  not  so  inexorably  powerful. 


BEHIND  THE  HORSESHOE  FALL. 


TTNDALL. 


b  there  must 
And  so  hero 
e  into  a  hell 
n  their  first 
it  with  a  fit- 
)y  would  be 

Vu,por  rises 
lancnt  white 
ower  hollow 
id  of  it  rises 
f  will  be  in- 
link  it.   But 

yon  will  be 
f  deep  from 
at  which  at 
;ill  the  mind 
ra  you  must 
I  to  see,  you 
ou  will  be  at 
'  among  the 
len  will  run 
izpression  of 
g  down  into 
ill  rise  again 
Sow  away  in 


see — at  least 

the  Falls  of 

,11  buildings, 

0  all  beauties 
I.      This  is  a 

I  know  no 
riagara  there 
hau  Giotto's 
"o  not  so  as- 

1  in  Jamaica 
iblo;  and  the 
r  powerful. 


®N  the  first  evening  of  my  visit,  I  met,  at  the  head  of  Biddle's  Stair,  the 
guide  to  the  Cave  of  the  Winds.  He  was  in  the  prime  of  manhood- 
large,  well  built,  firm  and  pleasant  in  mouth  and  eye.  My  interest  in  the 
scene  stirred  up  his  and  made  him  communicative.  Turning  to  a  photograph, 
he  described,  by  reference  to  it,  a  feat  which  he  had  accomplished  some  time 
previously,  and  which  had  bronghl  him  almost  under  the  green  water  of 
the  Horaeshoe  Fall.  "Can  you  lead  me  there  to-morrow?"  I  asked.  He 
eyed  me  inquiringly,  weighing,  perhaps,  the  chances  of  a  man  of  light  build, 
and  with  grey  in  his  whiskers,  in  such  an  undertaking.  "  I  wish,"  I  j»dded, 
"  to  see  as  much  of  the  Fall  as  can  be  seen,  and  where  you  lead  I  will  o;  avor 
to  follow."  His  scrutiny  relaxed  into  a  smile,  and  he  said,  "Very  jll,  I 
shall  be  ready  for  you  to-morrow. " 

On  the  morrow,  accordingly,  I  came.  In  the  hut  at  Biddle's  Stair  I  stripped 
wholly,  and  redressed  according  to  instructions — drawing  on  two  pairs  of 
woolen  pantaloons,  three  woolen  jackets,  two  pairs  of  socks,  and  a  pair  of  felt 
shoes.  Even  if  wet,  my  guide  assured  me  that  the  clothes  would  keep  me 
from  being  chilled  ;  and  he  was  right.  A  suit  and  hood  of  yellow  oil-cloth 
covered  all.  Most  laudable  precautions  were  taken  by  the  young  assistant  who 
helped  to  dress  me  to  keep  the  water  out ;  but  his  devices  broke  down  imme- 
diately when  severely  tested. 

We  descended  the  stair  ;  the  handle  of  a  pitchfork  doing  in  my  case,  the 
duty  of  an  Alpenstock.  At  the  bottom,  the  guide  inquired  whether  we  should 
go  first  to  the  Cave  of  the  Winds,  or  to  the  Horseshoe,  remarking  that  the 
latter  would  try  us  most.  I  decided  on  getting  the  roughest  done  first,  and 
he  turned  to  the  left  over  the  stones.  They  were  sharp  and  trying.  The  base 
of  the  first  portion  of  the  cataract  is  covered  with  huge  boulders,  obviously  the 
ruins  of  the  limestone  ledge  above.  The  water  does  not  distribute  itself  uni- 
formly among  those,  but  sucks  for  itself  channels  through  which  it  pours  tor- 
rentially.  We  passed  some  of  these  with  wetted  feet,  but  without  difficulty.. 
At  length  we  came  to  the  side  of  a  more  formidable  current.  My  guide 
walked  along  its  edge  until  he  reached  its  least  turbulent  portion.  Halting, 
he  said,  "  This  is  our  greatest  difficulty  ;  if  we  can  cross  here,  we  shall  get  far 
towards  the  Horseshoe." 

He  waded  in.  It  evidently  required  all  his  strength  to  steady  him.  The 
water  rose  above  his  loins,  and  it  foamed  still  higher.  He  had  to  search  for 
footing,  amid  unseen  boulders,  against  which  the  torrent  rose  violently.  He 
struggled  and  swayed,  but  he  straggled  successfully,  and  finally  reached  the 
shallower  water  at  the  other  side.  Stretching  out  his  arm,  ho  said  to  me, 
"Now,  come  on."  I  looked  down  the  torrent  as  it  rushed  to  the  river  below, 
which  was  seething  with  the  tumult  of  the  cataract.  De  Saussnre  recom- 
mended the  inspection  of  Alpine  dangers,  with  the  view  of  making  them 

67 


J 


S8 


mAOABA  PARK  ILLUSTHATED. 


\m 


familiar  to  the  fcye  before  ihey  are  encouaterod  ;  and  it  is  a  wliolesome  custom 
in  places  of  difficulty  to  put  the  possibility  of  an  accident  clearly  before  tlie 
mind,  and  to  decide  beforehand  what  ought  to  be  done  should  the  accident 
occur.  Thus  wound  up  in  the  present  instance,  I  entered  the  water.  Even 
where  it  was  not  more  than  knee  deep,  itp  power  was  manifest.  As  it  rose 
around  me,  I  sought  to  split  the  torrent  by  presenting  a  side  to  it ;  but  the  in- 
security of  the  footing  enabled  it  to  grasp  my  loins,  twist  me  fairly  round,  and 
bring  its  impetus  to  bear  upon  my  back.  Further  struggle  was  impossible  ; 
and  feeling  my  balance  hopelessly  gone,  I  Jturned,  flung  myself  toward  the 
bank  just  quitted,  and  was  instantly,  as  expected,  swept  into  shallower  water. 
The  oil-cloth  covering  was  a  great  incumbrance ;  it  had  been  made  for  a 
much  stouter  m^n,  and  standing  upright  after  my  submersion,  my  legs  occu- 
pied the  centre  of  two  bags  of  water.  My  guide  exhorted  me  to  try  again.  Pru- 
dence was  at  my  elbow  whispering  dissuasion;  but,  taking  everything  into  ac- 
count, it  appeared  more  immoral  to  retreat  than  to  proceed.  Instructed  by 
the  first  misadventure,  I  once  more  entered  the  stream.  Had  the  Alpenstock 
been  of  iron  it  might  have  helped  me ;  but  as  it  was,  the  tendency  of  the  wa- 
ter to  sweep  it  out  of  my  hands  rendered  it  worse  than  useless.  I,  however, 
clung  to  it  by  habit  Again  the  torrent  rose,  and  again  I  wavered  ;  but  by 
keeping  the  left  hip  well  against  it,  I  remained  upright,  and  at  length  grasped 
the  hand  of  my  leader  at  the  other  side.  *He  laughed  pleasantly.  The  first 
victory  was  gained,  and  he  enjoyed  it.  No  traveler  he  said  was  ever  here  be- 
fore 1  Soon  afterwards,  by  trusting  to  a  piece  of  driftwood  which  seemed 
firm,  I  was  again  taken  off  my  feet,  but  was  immediately  caught  by  a  protrud- 
ing rock. 

We  clambered  over  the  boulders  towards  the  thickest  spray,  which  soon  be- 
came so  weighty  as  to  cause  us  to  stagger  under  its  shock.  For  the  most  part 
nothing  could  be  seen ;  we  were  in  the  midst  of  bewildering  tumult,  lashed  by 
the  water,  which  sounded  at  times  like  the  cracking  of  innumerable  whips. 
Underneath  this  was  the  deep  resonant  roar  of  the  cataract  I  tried  to  shield 
my  eyes  with  my  hands,  and  look  upwards;  but  the  defence  was  useless.  The 
guide  continued  to  move  on,  but  at  a  certain  place  ho  halted,  and  desired  me 
to  take  shelter  in  his  lee,  and  observe  the  cataract  The  spray  did  not  come 
so  much  from  the  upper  ledge,  as  from  the  rebound  of  the  shattered  water 
when  it  struck  the  bottom.  Hence  the  eyes  could  be  protected  from  the  blind- 
ing shock  of  the  spray,  while  the  line  of  vision  to  the  upper  ledges  remained  to 
some  extent  clear.  On  looking  upwards  over  the  guide's  shoulder  I  could  see 
the  water  bending  over  the  lodge,  while  the  Terrapin  Tower  loomed  fitfully 
through  the  intermittent  spray  gusts.  We  were  right  under  the  tower.  A 
little  farther  on  the  cataract,  after  its  first  plunge,  hit  a  protuberance  some 
way  down,  and  flew  from  it  in  a  prodigious  burst  of  spray ;  through  this  wo 
staggered.  We  rounded  the  promontory  on  which  the  Terrapin  Tower  stands, 
and  moved,  amidst  the  wildest  commotion,  along  the  arm  of  the  Horseshoe, 
until  the  boulders  failed  us,  and  the  cataract  fell  into  the  profound  gorge  of 
the  Niagara  Kiver. 


...L..mk^\h^l''-m-i^W^'^^?S'-^'--^>^'Si 


me  custom 
before  tlie 
le  accident 
ter.  Even 
As  it  rose 
bat  the  in- 
round,  and 
mpoBsible ; 
toward  the 
)wer  water, 
made  for  a 
f  legs  occu- 
gain.  Pru- 
ing  into  oc- 
stmoted  hj 
Alpenstock 
of  the  wa- 
I,  however, 
ed ;  but  by 
^h  grasped 
The  first 
'er  here  be- 
lch seemed 
f  a  protrud- 

ich  soon  be- 
le  most  part 
it,  lashed  by 
able  whips, 
ed  to  shield 
leless.  The 
i  desired  me 
d  not  come 
btered  water 
1  the  blind- 
remained  to 
r  I  could  see 
med  fitfully 
9  tower.  A 
9rance  some 
ugh  this  wo 
[>wer  stands, 
Uorseshoc, 
jnd  gorge  of 


UORBESBOB  FALL. 


JflAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


NIAGARA'S   CANYON. 


V.  H.  ba:.lou. 


«ANY  attempts  were  nuule  previous  to  the  goYemment  soryey  in  187C,  to 
obtain  the  depth  of  the  water  in  the  canyon  below  the  Falls.  Bars  of  rail- 
road iron,  pails  of  stones,  and  all  unreasonable  and  awkward  instruments  were 
attached  to  long  lines  and  lowered  from  the  railway  suspension  bridge,  but 
positively  refused  to  sink.  The  reason  for  this  is  obvious.  The  very  bulk  of 
the  instruments  was  sufficient,  no  matter  what  their  weight,  to  give  the  pow- 
erful undercurrent  the  means  to  buoy  them  upon  or  near  the  wartaoe.  Our 
party,  however,  with  a  small  sounding  lead  of  twelve  pounds  weight,  attached 
to  a  slender  cord,  easily  obtained  the  depths  from  the  Falls  to  the  railway 
suspension  bridge.  One  day  we  launched  a  small  boat  at  the  inclined  railway, 
and  entered  on  a  most'exoiting  and  perilous  exploration  of  this  part  of  the 
canyon.  The  old  guide,  long  in  charge  of  the  miniature  ferry  situated  here 
accompanied  the  party.  With  great  difficulty  wo  approached  wjthin  a  short 
distance  of  the  American  Falls,  which  darted  great  jets  of  water  upon  us  and 
far  out  into  the  stream.  The  roar  was  so  terrible  that  no  voioe  or  human 
sound,  however  near  we  were  to  one  another,  could  be  heard.  The  leadsman 
cast  the  line,  which  passed  rapidly  down,  and  told  of  eighty-three  feet.  This 
was  quite  near  the  shore.  Passing  out  of  the  friendly  eddy  which  had  assists  I 
us  so  near  the  Falls  we  shot  rapidly  down  the  stream.  The  next  oast  of  the 
lead  read  one  hundred  feet,  deepening  to  one  hundred  and  ninety-three  feet 
at  the  inclined  railway.  Tlie  average  depth  to  the  Swift  Drift,  where  the  river 
suddenly  becomes  narrow,  with  a  velocity  too  great  to  be  measured,  was  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  feet,  ^nst  under  the  railway  bridge  the  whirlpool 
rapids  set  in,  and  so  violently  are  the  waters  agitated  that  they  rise  like  ocean 
billows  to  the  height  of  twenty  feet.  At  this  point  I  computed  the  depth  at 
two  hundred  and  ten  feet,  which  was  accepted  as  approximately  oorrect 

The  geological  formation  of  Niagara'a  canyon  is  too  well  understood  to  bear 
comment.  Some  of  the  topographical  appearances,  however,  may  be  men- 
tioned. The  canyonV  walls  range  from  two  hundred  and  seventy  to  three 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  height  above  the  water  level.  Of  course  they  are 
highest  at  their  termination  at  Lewiston,  where,  on  the  opposite  side,  the  base 
of  Brock's  Monument  is  three  hundred  and  sixty-flva  feet  above  water  in  the 
canyon.  The  walls  are  continually  crumbling  owing  to  the  action  of  the  at- 
mosphere, frost,  and  miniature  springs.  The  dibri»  is  driven  out  into  Lake 
Ontario,  forming  what  are  known  as  the  Brickbat  Shoals,  situated  three  and 
a  half  miles  from  the  river's  mouth.  The  river  within  the  walls,  more  es- 
pecially where  the  canyon  is  narrow,  is  sul^t  to  rise  and  fall  at  short  inter- 
vals, if  the  wind  is  heavy  ota  Lake  Erie. 


V 


\ 


X 


^»«"" 


y  in  187C,  to 
Ban  of  rail- 
uments  were 
bridge,  but 
rery  bulk  of 
five  the  pow- 
urfMB.    Our 
{ht,  att»:>hed 
>  the  railway 
ined  railway, 
II  part  of  the 
litnated  here 
ithin  a  short 
upon  us  and 
Ice  or  human 
I^he  leadiman 
« feet    This 
li  had  aasistc  I 
ctoaitof  the 
ety-three  feet 
here  the  river 
ared,  waa  one 
the  whirlpool 
iae  like  ooean 
L  the  depth  at 
oorrect. 
ratoodtobear 
may  be  men- 
enty  to  three 
Dane  they  are 
tide,  the  base 
» water  in  the 
on  of  the  at- 
mt  into  Lake 
ited  three  and 
alls,  more  es- 
at  diort  inter- 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


CAPTAIN  WEBB'S  LAST  SWIM. 

BK  IKE  most  men  who  make  hazardous  feats  in  public  for  money,  Captain 
^  Webb  was  moved  as  much  by  desire  to  increase  his  wealth  for  the  sake 
of  his  family  as  to  gain  further  notoriety  when  he  made  his  mad  attempt  to 
swim  down  the  Whirlpool  Rapids  and  through  the  Whirlpool. 

The  announcement  of  this  projected  feat  drew  a  great  multitude  to  Niagara 
Falls.  It  was  an  undertaking  that  had  been  heralded  by  the  press,  and  the 
chances  of  success  and  failure  had  been  widely  agitated  by  the  public.  Captain 
Webb  himself  had  no  doubt  about  his  ability  to  safely  perform  the  hazardous 
trip.  He  had  coped  with  the  sea  many  times.  For  jumping  from  a  Ounard 
steamer  during  a  storm,  to  save  a  sailor  who  had  fallen  overboard,  he  had  re- 
ceived at  the  hands  of  the  Duke  of  Edinburgh  the  first  gold  medal  the  Royal 
Humane  Society  had  given.  He  had  swam  across  the  English  Channel  from 
Dover  to  Calais.  In  this  country  he  swam  from  Sandy  Hook  to  Manhattan 
Beach.  After  looking  carefully  at  the  waters  of  Niagara,  he  failed  to  perceive 
that  their  depths  were  more  dangerous  than  the  waves  of  the  ocean. 

It  was  on  the  24th  day  of  July,  1883,  at  a  few  minutes  past  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  that  Captain  Webb  made  his  fearful  plunge.  From  a  boat 
rowed  to  the  center  of  the  stream,  at  a  point  about  one-quarter  mile  from  the 
head  of  the  rapids,  he  dived,  head  first,  into  the  water.  After  a  few  vigorous 
strokes  he  was  in  the  rapids,  his  form,  as  seen  from  the  great  bluff  above,  look- 
ing like  a  mere  speck  of  matter  buffeting  with  the  waves.  "He  went,"  says 
one  writer,  "like  an  arrow  shot  from  a  bow,  the  first  great  wave  he  struck  he 
went  under,  but  in  a  second  appeared  way  beyond.  The  great  waves  rushed 
over  him  occasionally,  but  he  always  seemed  ready  to  meet  them.  His  great 
chest  was  boldly  pushed  forward,  and  occasionally  half  of  the  magnificent 
physique  of  the  reckless  adventurer  was  lifted  from  the  water,  but  he  bravely 
kept  his  position  through  it  all,  and  seemed  perfectly  collected  and  at  home." 
He  went  safely  through  the  upper  rapids,  then  passed  through  to  the  lower 
ones,  a  trip  more  perilous  as  the  waves  dash  higher  and  the  water  is  confined 
in  a  narrower  space.  The  spectators  watched  breathless  as  he  was  borne  on- 
ward through  this  awful  sea.  His  body  rising  alternately  above,  or  sinking 
beneath  the  maddened  waves.  When  he  entered  the  Whirlpool  he  threw  up 
one  of  his  arms  like  a  danger  signal,  a  second  later  he  was  buried  beneath  the 
waters  of  that  fearful  maelstrom. 

This  was  the  last  seen  of  this  daring  swimmer  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
88th,  when  his  body  was  recovered  in  the  river  below  Lewiston.  When 
found,  his  arms  and  feet  were  extended  as  though  in  the  act  of  swimming. 
From  the  appearance  of  the  body,  physicians  were  of  opinion  that  death 
had  not  been  caused  by  asphyxia,  dro wring,  or  local  injury  to  the  body  from 
contact  with  hard  substances,  but  was  due  to  the  force  of  the  water  in  the 
rapids,  which  comes  with  such  force  upon  the  respiratory  organs  that  no 
living  body  can  pass  through  them  alive.  In  the  first  breaker  Captain  Webb 
was  subjected  to  this  pressure,  death  resulting. 


aey,  Oaptain 
for  the  sake 
attempt  to 

e  to  Niagara 
I,  and  the 
lio.  Captain 
e  haiardona 
)m  a  Oanard 
d,  he  had  re- 
al  the  Royal 
hannel  from 

0  Manhattan 
d  to  peroeiye 
an. 

>ar  o'clock  in 
From  a  boat 
nile  from  the 
few  Tigorons 
labove,  look- 
}  went,"  saya 
he  struck  he 
wayea  mahed 
k.  Hia  great 
)  magnificent 
it  he  bravely 
nd  at  home." 

1  to  the  lower 
)r  is  confined 
'aa  borne  on- 
e,  or  sinking 
[  he  threw  up 
[  beneath  the 

»moon  of  the 
iton.  When 
if  awimming. 
I  that  death 
le  body  from 
water  in  the 
^na  that  no 
laptain  Webb 


NIAGARA. 


TranMattdfrom  th*  eipanU\  qf  Maria  Jo$i  IlirtdoiUi, 
by  nVHam  CulUm  Bryant. 


rlEMENDOUS  torrent!  for  an  instant  huih 
The  terrors  of  thy  voice,  and  cast  aatde 
Tlioae  wide  involving  stiadowa,  tliat  my  eyes 
May  see  tlie  fearful  beauty  of  thy  face  I 

Thou  flowest  on  in  quiet,  till  thy  wavee 
Qrow  broken  'midst  the  rocks;  thy  current  then 
Shoots  onward  like  the  irresistible  course 
Of  destiny.    Ah,  terribly  they  rage,— 
The  hoarse  and  rapid  whirlpools  there!  My  brain 
Orows  wild,  my  senses  wander,  as  I  gaze 
Upon  the  hurrying  waters;  and  my  sight 
Vainly  would  follow,  as  toward  the  verge 
Swe^M  the  wide  torrent    Waves  innumerable 
Meet  there  and  madden, — waves  innumerable 
Urge  on  and  overtake  the  waves  before. 
And  disappear  in  thunder  and  in  foam. 

They  reach,  they  leap  the  barrier,— the  abyss 
Swallows  insatiable  tne  sinking  waves. 
A  thousand  rainbows  arch  them,  and  woods 
Are  deafened  with  the  roar.    The  violent  shock 
Shatters  to  vapor  the  descending  sheets. 
A  cloudy  whirlwind  fills  the  gulf,  and  heaves 
The  mighty  pyramid  of  circling  mist 
.To  heaven.  *  *  »  * 

What  seeks  my  restless  eye  T    Why  are  not  here, . 
About  the  laws  of  this  abyss,  the  palms, — 
Ah,  the  delicious  palms, — that  on  the  plains 
Of  my  own  native  Cuba  spring  and  spread 
Their  thickly  f  oliaged  summits  to  the  sun. 
And  in  the  breathincs  of  the  ocean  air 
Wave  soft  beneath  the  heavens  unspotted  blue  ? 

But  no,  Niagara,— thy  forest jpineo 
Are  fitter  coronal  for  thee.    The  palm. 
The  effeminate  myrtle  and  pale  rose  may  grow 
In  gardens  and  give  out  their  ifragrance  there. 
Unmanning  him  who  breathes  it.    Thine  it  is 
To  do  a  nobler  office.    Generous  minds 
Behold  thee,  and  are  moved  and  learn  to  rise 
Above  earth's  frivolous  pleasures;  they  partake 
Thy  grandeur  at  the  utterance  of  thy  name. 
•  *«**« 

Dread  torrent,  that  with  wonder  and  with  fear 
Dost  overwhelm  the  soul  of  him  who  looks 
Upon  thee,  and  dost  bear  it  from  itself,— 
Whence  hast  thou  thy  beginning?    Who  supplies 
Age  after  afrc,  thy  unexhausted  springs? 
What  powrr  hath  ordered  that,  when  all  thy  weight 
Descends  into  the  deep,  the  swollen  waves 
Rise  not  and  roll  to  overwhelm  the  earth? 

The  Lord  hath  opened  his  omnipotent  liiind, 
Covered  thy  face  with  cloud}  and  given  his  voice 
Tu  thy  down-rushing  wnters:  lie  hath  girt 
Thy  teirible  forehead  with  his  radiant  bow 
I  see  thy  never-resting  waters  run, 
And  I  bethink  me  bow  the  tide  of  time 
Sweeps  to  eternity." 


XIAOARA   PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


!i 


111 


^T  is  a  sign  of  the  growing  good  taste  of  the  traTe.ihg  pablio 
in  America,  that  it  is  becoming  with  the  years  more  ap- 
preciative of  the  charms  of  Niagara  in  winter. 

Not  less  glorious  are  the  great  Falls  when  suuimer  departs, 
and  they  are  delivered  to  the  undisputed  sway  of  the  Ice  King. 
Then  the  clouds  of  spray,  which  Fanny  Butler  has  called  so 
beautifully  "the  everlasting  incense  of  the  waters,"  becomes 
congealed  and  fall  in  fleecy  folds  around  the  base  of  the  cataract. 
In  place  of  verdure,  the  trees  are  covered  with  glittering  masses 
of  snov  and  ice.  On  each  side  of  the  Falls  from  the  ledges  and 
overhanging  clifiFs,  huge  icicles  are  suspended,  which,  in  the 
bright  sunshine,  ray  out  cormscations  outrivaling  in  splendor 
those  gleams  which  tradition  has  assigned  as  coming  from  the' 
Great  Carbuncle  of  the  White  Mountains. 

Nothing  iiiuitf  fail  j-like  and  enchanting  can  be  conceived.  It 
holds  the  fancy  like  an  Arabian  Night's  tale.  To  make  an  extract 
from  a  beautiful  description  by  Principal  Grant,  of  Queen's 
University:  "  No  marvels  wrought  by  genii  and  magicians  in 
Eastern  tales  could  surpass  the  wonderful  creations  that  rise 
along  the  surrounding  banks  and  hang  over  the  walls  of  the 
cataract.  Glittering  wreaths  of  icicles,  like  jeweled  diadems,  gleam  on  the 
brow  of  every  projecting  rock  and  jutting  crag.  Arches,  pillars  and  porticos 
of  shining  splendor  are  grouped  beneath  the  overhanging  difb,  giving  fanci- 
ful suggestions  of  fairy  palaces  beyond.  Every  fallen  fragment  of  rock  under 
its  icy  covering  becomes  a  marble  column,  pyramid  or  obelisk,  and  masses  of 


eang  pablio 
rs  more  ap- 

iner  departs, 
le  Ice  King, 
las  called  so 
rs,"  becomes 
the  cataract, 
oring  maases 
0  ledges  and 
liicb,  in  the 
in  splendor 
ing  from  the' 

inceived.  It 
ke  an  extract 
,  of  Queen's 
magicians  in 
ma  that  rise 
walls  of  the 
;leam  on  the 
and  porticos 
giving  fanci- 
f  rock  under 
ind  maases  of 


NIAGARA  PARK  ILLUBTRAIEU. 

frozen  spray  stand  out  horo  and  there  in  graceful  and, statuesque  fonnSf 
easily  shaped  bj  ima|pnation  into  the  half-linished  work  of  a  sculptor.  Every 
rift  and  opening  in  the  cliff  is  truuaformed  into  an  alabaster  grotto,  with 
frieses  and  mouldings  "all  fretted  and  froze"  with  filagree  wreathj  and 
festoons,  and  filmy  veils  and  canopies  of  laoe-like  pattern  and  gossamer  text- 
ure; and  on  every  curve  and  angle,  round  every  fissure  and  crevice,  some 
fantastic  and  lovely  decoration  is  wovun  by  winter's  master  artist,  King  Frost. 
Over  the  Horseshoe  towards  Goat  Island  and  the  Bridal  Veil  Fall,  the  water 
pours  in  thin,  silvery  sheets,  which  dissolve  into  white  curling  mists  as  they 
slide  slowly  down.  Pinnacles  of  ice,  stretching  high  above  them,  break  these 
falling  streams.  The  American  Fall,  through  its  holering  veil  of  spray, 
seems  transformed  into  wreaths  of  frozen  foam.  The  face  of  Goat  Island  is 
resplendent  with  huge  many-tinted  icicles,  showing  all  the  colors  of  the  rocks 
on  which  they  are  formed;  and  on  either  shore  the  underoliffs  are  hung  with 
lovely  draperies  of  frozen  spray.  Every  house  and  fence  and  railing,  every 
tree  and  shrub  and  tiny  twig  and  blade  of  grass  on  which  this  wonder-working 
spray  falls  and  freezes,  becomes  wrapped  in  a  gleaming  white  crust,  and 
glistens  in  the  sun  as  if  made  of  crystal  and  mother-of-pearl.  From  the  tips 
of  the  evergreen  branches  hang  clusters  of  ice  balls,  popularly  called  ice  apples, 
which  flash  and  glitter  when  the  rays  of  sunlight  fall  on  them,  like  the  jewels 
growing  on  the  trees  of  the  magic  garden  in  the  Arabian  Nights.  Still  more 
fairy-like  are  the  evanescent  charms  produced  by  a  night's  hoarfrost,  fringing 
the  pearly  covering  in  which  everything  is  wrapped  with  a  delicate,  fragile 
efflorescence,  and  giving  a  soft,  shadowy,  visionary  aspect  to  the  whole  scene 
as  if  it  were  the  creation  of  some  wonderful  dream.  Then  as  the  sun,  before 
which  its  unearthly  beauty  melts  away,  shines  out,  all  changes  for  a  few  brief 
minutes  into  a  sparkling,  dazzling  glory,  as  if  a  shower  of  diamond  dust  had 
suddenly  fallen." 

In  front  of  the  Falls,  at  the  foot  of  the  cataract,  a  natural  bridge  is  formed 
in  some  winters  by  the  precipitation  of  ice  blocks  several  tons  in  weight;  these 
coming  over  the  cataract  become  firmly  jammed  together  outside  the  basin, 
forming  a  bridge  from  shore  to  shore,  sometimes  extending  far  down  the 
Viver.  From  this  ice  bridge  a  near  sight  can  be  had  of  the  maddened  waters 
as  they  plunge  into  the  vortex  below.  Over  this  bridge  tourists,  sight-seers, 
and  idlers  of  every  description  pass  backwards  and  forwards,  the  roughness  of 
the  road  often  broken  and  uneven  in  places,  and  thickly  encrusted  with  frozen 
spray,  giving  a  little  difficulty  and  excitement  to  the  passage,  though  the 
immense  thickness  of  the  ice  blocks  so  firmly  wedged  together,  make  it  for  the 
time  as  safe  as  terra  firma.  The  veiw  of  the  Falls  from  the  ice  is  magnificent, 
but  the  ice  hills  are  a  still  greater  attraction.  These  are  formed  among  the 
rocks  at  the  foot  of  the  American  Full  by  accumulation  of  frozen  spray,  rising 
layer  above  layer,  till  immense  cones  of  ice,  forty,  sixty,  even  eighty  feet  high 
are  made.  All  day  long  boys  in  their  small  hand-sleds  slide  down  these  huge 
slopes,  and  sometimes  on  moonlight  nights  toboggan  parties  assemble  and 
enjoy  the  exciting  amusement,  amidst  romantic  and  picturesque  surroundings 
nowhere  else  to  bo  found. 


iuesquo  fonni» 
ulptor.    Every 
er  grotto,  with 
Ks  wre»th4  and 
goaaamor  text- 
i  crevice,  some 
at,  King  Frost. 
Fall,  the  water 
I  mists  as  they, 
em,  break  these 
veil  of  spray. 
Goat  Island  is 
ors  of  the  rocks 
I  are  hung  with 
d  railing,  every 
wonder-working 
hite  crast,  and 
From  the  tips 
}alled  ice  apples, 
1,  like  the  jewels 
hts.     Still  more 
T frost,  fringing 
delicate,  fragile 
the  whole  scene 
g  the  sun,  before 
IS  for  a  few  brief 
iamond  dust  had 

bridge  is  formed 
I  in  weight;  these 
itside  the  basin, 
ig  far  down  the 
onaddened  waters 
rists,  sight-seers, 
the  roughness  of 
usted  with  frozen 
sage,  though  the 
r,  make  it  for  the 
ze  is  magnificent, 
ormed  among  the 
ozen  spray,  rising 
1  eighty  feet  high 
down  these  huge 
lies  assemble  and 
ique  surroundings 


yjAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


% 


THE  CATARACT  AS  SEEN  BY  ELECTRIC  LIGHT. 

h      

0  get  more  brilliant  cflecti  npon  the  FalU  by  night,  man  haa  had  th« 
^  audacity  to  call  in  art  ai  an  aid  to  nature.  At  Niagara  the  electno 
light  has  been  put  into  requisition  as  an  illuminator.  This  light  is  placed 
upon  the  Ublo-lond  of  Goat  Island  on  what  is  now  known  as  Prospect  Park. 
Thrown  through  white  and  colored  glasses  upon  fountains  of  water  and  called 
the  Eleotrio  Fountains,  they  give  a  pleasing  effect  The  grounds  at  Prospwjt 
Park  are  illuminated  each  evening  by  the  electric  light,  one  edge  of  the  Amcr- 
ican  Fall  and  Bapids  are  so  illuminated  by  them. 

Lady  Duffus  Hardy  describes  this  light  as  it  appeared  to  her  on  her  first 
tisit  to  Niagara.  "  It  was,"  she  writes,  "  a  moonless  night,  and  in  the  dusk 
we  oould  scarcely  trace  the  vast  vague  outline  of  the  two  fulls,  divided  by  the 
blurred  mass  of  shapeless  shadows  which  w6  learned  was  Goat  Island.  As  we 
looked  upon  them  silently,  and  listened  to  the  ceaseless  boom-hke  distant 
thunder,  which  shook  the  ground  beneath  our  feet,  across  the  snowy  veil  of 
the  American  Fall,  to  oor  left,  shot  rays  of  rosy  light  which  melted  into 
amber,  then  into  emerald.     They  were  illuminating  the  great  waters  with 

colored  calcium  lights  I "  .     ■„  ., 

On  the  occasion  of  the  visit  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  in  1860,  the  Falls  were 
illuminated  on  a  moonless  night  by  the  electric  light.  According  to  a  writer 
in  Scribner's  Magasine,  "1  he  banks  above  and  all  about  on  the  rocks  below, 
on  the  lower  side  of  the  road  down  to  the  Canada  bank  and  along  the  water's 
*dge,  were  placed  nnmerons  colored  and  white  calcium,  volcanic,  and  torpedo 
lights.  At  a  given  signal  they  were  all  at  once  set  aflame.  At  the  same  time, 
rwskets  and  wheels  and  flying  artillery  were  set  off  in  great  abundance.  The 
shore  was  crowded  with  people  and  the  scene  was  of  surpassing  magnificence. 

Opinion  is  certainly  divided  upon  this  intrusion  of  cheap  theatrical  effects 
upon  a  spectacle  in  itself  so  sublime.  Any  attempt  to  improve  Niagara  Falls 
■eems  to  many  to  be  as  foolish  as 

"  To  gild  refined  gold,  to  paint  the  lily. 

To  throw  a  perfame  on  the  violet, 

To  smooth  the  ice,  or  add  another  hue 

Unto  the  rainbow,  or  with  taper  light 

To  seek  the  beanteous  eye  of  heaven  to  garnish." 


1 


GHT. 


tiaa  had  the 
the  eleotrio 
t  ii  placed 
upeot  Park, 
r  and  called 
at  Protpeot 
)t  the  Amcr- 

on  her  flnt 
in  the  dnsk 
Tided  by  the 
and.    As  we 

like  distant 
inowjr  Teil  of 

melted  into 
waten  with 

e  Falls  were 
1^  to  a  writer 
rocks  below, 
ig  the  water's 
,  and  torpedo 
lie  same  time, 
idanoe.  The 
agnifloence.'^ 
trical  effects 
Niagara  Falls 


t 


NIAGABA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


it ' 
if 


1'^ 


1^ 


THE  THREE  SISTERS  ISLANDS. 


KOM  the  head  of  the  third  of  the  Three  Sisters 
Islands  is  seen  one  continuons  cascade,  extend- 
ing as  far  as  the  eye  can  re^ch  from  Goat  Island 
across  to  the  Canada  shore,  varying  from  ten 
to  twenty  feet  in  height.  This  is  a  miniature 
Niagara,  from  which  rises  a  cloud  of  spray  sim- 
ilar to  that  of  the  Great  Falls,  and  presents  a 
pecaliar  phenomena  nsnally  termed  the  Leap- 
ing Bock.  The  water  striking  against  the 
rock  rises  perpetually  in  an  unbroken  column 
twenty  or  more  feet  high,  produces  a 
most  brilliant  effect. 

Grand  views  of  the  Rapids  are  to  be 
had  from  the  Suspension  Bridges,  which 
were  built  in  1868  to  connect  the  Threo 
Sisters  with  Grand  Island.    On  these 
islands  a  cool  retreat  is  to  be  had  in  the  warm- 
est days  of  summer.    Their  dense  woods  afford 
a  pleasant  shade,  while  between  the  branches 
of  the  trees  the  fortunate  tourist  can  gaze  at 
the  most  enchanting  scenery.    He  can  see  the 
wooded  slopes  of  Goat  Island,  the  fall  of  the 
Horseshoe  in  the  distance,  and  near  him  the 
cascades  under  the  bridges  formed  by  the  cur- 
rent passing  over  the  ledges  of  rocks. 

Won  by  the  loveliness  of  the  Three  Sisters  Islands,  Francis  Abbot,  called 
the  "  Hermit  of  the  FaUs^'*  applied  for  a  piece  of  giound  on  them  on  which 
he  might  construct  a  cottage  after  his  own  model,  which  comprised  among 
other  peculiarities,  isolation  by  means  of  a  drawbridge.  This,  of  course,  wa» 
refused,  but  he  took  up  his  residence  in  an  old  house  that  had  been  deserted 
by  its  inmates.  \Thoever  these  were  who  had  chosen  so  wild  and  rdmantio  a 
spot  to  live  in,  had  a  soul  for  the  beautiful  that  no  other  place  could  satisfy. 
After  an  absence  of  less  than  two  years,  they  returned  to  their  old  abode—to 
listetfonce  more  to  the  sound  of  the  mighty  cataract ;  to  press  again  witli 
their  feet  the  soil  which  is  as  enchanted  ground;  to  be,  in  fiue,  where  Nature 


"  But  one  Tut  realm  of  wonder  tpresdi  around. 
And  all  the  Mum'b  talcs  seem  truly  told, 
Till  the  seme  aches  with  gazing  to  behold." 


LANDS. 


'bree  Sisters 
;ade,  extend- 

Qoat  Island 
ng  from  ten 

a  miniature 
of  spray  sim- 
presents  a 
)d  the  Leap- 

against  the 

>ken  colamn 

prodnces  a 

ids  are  to  be 
ridgesjwhich 
9ot  the  Tbreo 
On  these 
in  the  warm- 
woods  afford 
the  branchea 
it  can  gaze  at 
B  can  see  the 
te  fall  of  the 
near  him  the 
d  by  the  cur- 
Abbot,  called, 
lem  on  which 
prised  among 
)f  course,  waa 
been  deserted 
id  romantic  a 
could  satisfy, 
old  abode — to 
ss  again  with 
where  Nature 


IfJAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


m 


THE     LOST     CHILDREN. 

A  Legend  of  Luna  Island. 

^MONG  the  accidents  chronicled  as  having  happened  at  Niagara  is  one  that 
«i^  is  said  to  have  taken  place  on  the  northern  shore  of  Luna  Island.  On 
a  beaatifal  day  in  summer,  when  the  scenery  was  at  its  loveliest,  a  party  of 
tourists  from  the  west  crossed  over  the  bridge  which  leads  from  the  famous 
Ca\e  of  the  Winds  to  Luna  Island.  They  were  all  in  the  gayest  possible  spirits. 
Two  children  who  wore  with  them  laughed  with  delight  at  seeing  that  it  was 
possible  to  dip  their  hands  into  the  Rapids  which  here  runs  so  close  that 
one  can  reach  the  rushing  tide  as  it  passes  over  the  verge.      The  trembling  of 


the  Island  was  remarked,  a  trembling  whieh  althoagh  it  takes  place  the  imag- 
ination heightens  the  impression.  They  looked  at  and  admired  the  many 
Iris  bows  which  are  seen  here  to  the  beet  advantage.  In  the  midst  of  their  fan 
and  frolic,  the  little  girl,  who  was  some  seven  years  of  age,  advanced  quite 
near  the  brink  of  the  oli£f.  A  yoang  lad  who  was  near  caught  her  by  the  dress, 
a  light  summer  material,  which  giving  way  as  he  pulled  it,  the  teaiiug  gave 
an  impetus  which  sent  the  child  over  into  the  terrible  Bapids.  Moved  by  a 
brave  impulse  to  save  her,  the  boy  sprang  into  the  waters  after  her,  and  both 
were  <  xrried  down  into  that  whirling  mass  of  waves  which  seldom  yiell  back 
that  which  is  given  to  them. 

The  parents,  broken-hearted  at  the  loss  of  their  children,  waited  for  weeks 
in  the  hopes  that  the  waters  would  place  the  dead  within  their  reach.  Their 
wailing  was  in  vain,  and  at  last  they  wore  obliged  to  return  childless  to  their 
desolate  home. 


'a  is  one  that 
Island.  On 
a  party  of 
I  tho  famous 
isible  spirits. 
r  that  it  was 
o  close  that 
trembling  of 


ICO  the  imag- 

d  the  many 

b  of  their  fan 

iTanced  quite 

by  the  dress, 

teaiing  gate 

Moved  by  a 

lor,  and  both 

m  yiell  back 

ed  for  weeks 
each.  Their 
dless  to  their 


THE   RAPIDS  BY  MOONLIGHT. 

MAKGAKET   FITLLKR. 

S  I  rode  up  to  th^  neighborhood  of  the  Falls,  a 
solemn  awe  imperceptibly  stole  over  me,  and 
the  deep  sound  of  the  ever-hurrying  rapids 
prepared  my  mind  for  tho  bfty  emotions  to  be 
experienced.  When  I  rcachod  the  hotel  I  felt 
a  strange  indifference  about  seeing  the  aspira- 
tion of  my  life's  hopes.  I  lounged  about  the 
rooms,  read  the  stage-bills  upon  the  walls, 
looked  over  the  register,  and  finding  the  name 
of  an  acquaintance,  sent  to  see  if  he  was  still 
there.  What  this  hesitation  arose  from,  I 
know  not;  perhaps  it  was  a  feeling  of  my  un- 
worthiness  to  enter  this  temple  which  nature 
has  eiiected  to  its  Ood. 

At  last,  slowly  and  thoughtfully  I  walked 
down  to  the  bridge  leading  to  Goat  Island, 
and  when  I  stood  upon  this  frail  support,  and  saw  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of 
tumbling,  rushing  rapids,  and  heard  their  everlasting  roar,  my  emotions  over- 
powered me,  a  choking  sensation  rose  to  my  throat,  a  thrill  rushed  through 
my  veins,  "  my  blood  ran  rippling  to  my  fingers'  ends."  This  was  the  climax 
of  the  effect  which  the  falls  produced  upon  me— neither  the  American  nor 
the  British  fall  moved  me  as  did  these  rapids.  For  the  magnificence,  the 
sublimity  of  the  latter,  I  was  prepared  by  descriptions  and  by  paintings. 
When  I  arrived  in  sight  of  them  I  merely  felt:  "  Ah,  yesl  here  is  the  fall,  just 
as  I  have  seen  it  in  a  picture."  When  I  arrived  at  tho  Terrapin  Bridge  I  ex- 
pected to  be  overwhelmed,  to  retire  trembling  from  this  giddy  eminence,  and 
gaze  with  unlimited  wonder  and  awe  upon  the  immense  mass  rolling  on  and 
on;  but,  somehow  or  other,  I  thought  only  of  comparing  the  effect  on  my 
mind  with  what  I  had  read  and  heard.  I  looked  for  a  short  time,  and  then, 
with  almost  a  feeling  of  disappointment,  turned  to  go  to  the  other  points  of 
view,  to  see  if  I  was  not  mistaken  in  not  feeling  any  surpassing  emotion  at 
this  sight.  But  from  the  foot  of  Biddte's  stairs,  and  the  middle  of  the  river, 
and  from  below  the  Table  Bock,  it  was  still  "  barren,  barren  all." 

Provoked  with  my  stupidity  in  feeling  most  moved  in  the  wrong  place,  I 
turned  away  to  the  hotel,  determined  to  set  off  for  Buffalo  that  afternoon. 
But  the  stage  did  not  go,  and  after  nightfall  as  there  was  a  splendid  moon,  I 
went  down  to  the  bridge  and  leaned  over  tho  parapet,  where  the  boiling 
rapids  came  down  in  their  might.  It  was  grand,  and  it  was  also  gorgeous; 
the  yellow  rays  of  the  moon  made  the  broken  waves  appear  like  auburn  tresses 
twining  around  the  black  rocks.  But  they  did  not  inspire  me  as  before.  I 
felt  a  foreboding  of  a  mightier  emotion  to  rise  up  and  swallow  all  others,  and 


NIAQARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 

I  passed  on  to  the  Terrapin  Bridge.  Everything  was  changed,  the  misty  ap- 
parition had  taken  off  its  many  colored  crown  which  it  had  worn  by  day,  and 
a  bow  of  silvery  white  spanned  its  summit.  The  moonlight  gave  a  poetical 
indefiniteness  to  the  distant  parts  of  the  waters,  and  while  the  rapids  were 
glancing  in  her  beams,  the  riVer  below  the  falls  was  as  black  as  night,  save 
where  the  reflection  of  the  sky  gave  it  the  appearance  of  a  shield  of  bine  steel. 
No  gaping  tonrists  loitered,  eyeing  with  their  glasses  or  sketching  on  cards 
the  hoary  locks  of  the  ancient  river  god.  All  tended  to  harmonize  with  the 
natural  grandeur  of  the  scene.  I  gazed  long.  I  saw  how  here  mutability  and 
unchangeableness  were  united.  I  surveyed  the  conspiring  waters  rushing 
against  the  rocky  ledge  to  overthrow  it  in  one  mad  plnnge,  till,  like  toppling 
ambition,  o'orleaping  themselves,  they  fall  on  t'other  side,  expanding  into 
foam  ere  they  reach  the  deep  channel,  where  they  creep  submissively  away. 

Then  arose  in  my  breast  a  genuine  admiration  and  a  hnmble  adoration  of 
the  Being  who  was  the  architect  of  this  and  of  all.  Happy  were  the  first 
discoverers  of  Niagara,  those  who  could  come  unaware!  upon  this  view  and 
upon  that,  whose  feelings  were  entirely  their  own.  With  what  gusto  does 
Father  Hennepin  describe  ''this  great  downfall  of  water,  this  vast  and  pro- 
digious cadence  of  water,  which  falls  down  after  a  surprising  and  astonishing 
manner,  insomuch  that  the  universe  does  not  afford  its  parallel.  'Tis  true 
Italy  and  Swedeland  boast  of  some  such  things,  but  we  may  well  say  that  they 
be  sorry  patterns  when  compared  with  this  of  which  we  do  now  speak." 

*  *  *  *  And  now  farewell,  Niagara.  I  have  seen  thee,  and  I  think  all 
who  come  here  must  see  thee ;  thou  art  not  to  be  got  rid  of  as  easily  as  the 
stars.  I  will  be  here  again  beneath  some  flooding  July  moon  and  sun.  Owing 
to  the  abscence  of  light,  I  have  seen  the  rainbow  only  two  or  three  times  hj 
day ;  the  lunar  bow  not  at  all.  However,  the  imperial  presence  needs  not  ita 
crown,  though  illustrated  by  it. 


And  now  you  have  the  little  all  I  have  to  write.  Oan  it  interest  you  ?  To 
one  who  has  enjoyed  the  fulliife  of  any  scene,  at  any  hour,  what  thoughts  oan 
be  recorded  about  it  seem  like  the  commas  and  semicolons  in  the  paragrapha 
— mere  stops.  Tet  I  suppose  it  is  not  so  to  the  absent.  At  least  I  have  read 
things  written  about  Niagara,  music  and  the  like  that  interested  nt«.  Once  I 
was  moved  by  Mr.  Qreeuwood's  remark  ihat  he  could  not  realize  this  marvel 
till,  opening  his  eyes  the  next  morning  after  he  had  seen  it,  his  doubt  as  to  the 
possibility  of  its  being  still  there  taught  him  what  he  had  experienced.  '  I  re- 
member this  now  with  pleasure,  though  or  because,  it  is  so  exactly  the  oppo- 
site to  what  I  myself  felt.  For  all  greatness  affects  different  minds,  each  in 
"  its  own  particular  kind,"  and  the  variations  of  testimony  mark  the  truth  of 
feeling. 


'>^JM^ 


aisty  ap- 
iay,  and 
poetical 
•ids  were 
;ht,  save 
ae  steel, 
on  cards 
with  the 
lility  and 
rushing 
toppling 
ing  into 
away, 
ration  of 
the  first 
view  and 
isto  does 
andpro- 
tonishlng 
'Tis  true 
that  they 

think  all 
lily  as  the 
1.    Owing 

times  by 
Is  not  its 


irou?  To 
ughts  can 
aragrapha 
have  read 
.  Once  I 
lis  marvel 
t  as  to  the 
ted.  Ire- 
the  oppo- 
Ib,  each  in 
le  truth  o£ 


mAGAnA  PATiK  inLUKTRATED 


THE  MUSIC  OF  NIAGARA. 


EUGENE  THATEB. 


Tone  Construction. 

^T  had  ever  been  my  belief  that  Niagara  had  not  been  heard  as  it  ahould  be, 
^  and  in  this  belief  I  eagerly  turned  my  steps  hitherward  the  first  time  a 
busy  life  would  permit.  What  did  I  hear  ?  The  roar  of  Niagara  ?  No. 
Having  been  everywhere  about  Niagara,  above  and  below,  far  and  near,  over 
and  under,  and  heard  her  voice  in  all  its  wondrous  modulations,  I  must  say 
that  I  have  never  for  a  single  instant  heard  any  roar  of  Niagara.  From  the 
first  moment  to  the  last,  I  heard  nothing  but  a  perfectly  constructed  musical 
tone — clear,  definite,  and  unapproachable  in  its  majestic  perfection;  a  com- 
plete series  of  tones,  all  uniting  in  one  grand  and  noble  unison,  as  in  the 
organ,  and  all  as  easily  recognizable  as  the  notes  of  any  great  chord  in  music. 
And  I  believe  it  was  my  life-long  familiarity  with  the  king  of  instruments 
which  enabled  me  to  detect  so  readily  the  tone  construction  of  this  mighty 
Yoioe  of  the  "  thunder  of  waters." 

I  had  been  told  that  the  pitch  of  this  tone  had  been  given  by  various  per- 
sons. That  were  an  easy  task,  althongh  no  two  of  them  seem  to  have  been 
unanimous.  I  propose  to  give  much  more  than  this,  and  the  reader  will  find 
not  only  the  pitch  of  the  chidf  or  ground  tone  given,  but  that  of  all  accessory 
or  upper  tones,  otherwise  known  as  harmonic,  collateral,  or  over  tones;  also 
the  beat  or  accent  of  Niagara,  with  its  rythmical  vibrations  and  subdivisions,, 
from  the  largest  to  the  smallest,  and  all  in  such  simple  notation  that' anyone 
who  understands  the  rudiments  of  music  may  readily  comprehend  it.  .  Indeed, 
I  believe  that  all  good  readers  may  understand  it  clearly  without  any  special 
technical  knowledge  of  music  to  assist  them. 

I  have  said  that  the  tone  of  Niagara  was  like  that  of  the  full  tone  of  a  great 
organ.  So  literally  true  is  this,  that  I  cannot  make  my  meaning  dear  without 
«  brief  outline  of  the  construction  of  that  great  instrument. 

A  great  organ  has  in  it  many  pipes,  varying  from  the  size  of  an  eagle's  quill 
to  three  or  four  feet  in  diameter;  and  in  length  from  a  quarter  of  an  inch  to 
thirty-two  feet.    The  quality  of  tone  from  these  pipes  also  varies,  from  that  of 


should  be, 
first  time  a 
l&rtk  ?  No. 
I  near,  orer 
I  mast  say 
From  the 
ted  musical 
ion;  aoom- 
1,  as  in  the 
"d  in  music, 
nstmments 
ihis  mighty 

rarious  per- 
>  have  been 
ler  will  find 
U  accessory 
tones;  also 
tbdiyisions,, 
hat' anyone 
»  ■  Indeed, 
any  special 

)  of  a  great 
lar  without 

agle's  quill 
an  inch  to 
om  that  of 


THE  MUSIC  OF  NIAGARA. 

the  lightest  zephyr  to  the  Toice  of  the  tempest.  To  show  the  pitch  and  com- 
positibn  of  the  tone  of  Niagara,  I  will  first  give,  in  simple  notation,  the  pitch 
of  these  varions  sized  organ  pipes. 

The  organ  key-board  has  a  compass  of  from  fonr  to  five  octaves.  The  fact 
that  a  great  organ  has  three  or  four  key-boards  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
matter,  all  the  key-boards  in  this  respect  being  alike.  The  entire  compass  is 
as  below  written,  indnding  all  chromatic  intervals  : 


Diagram  1. 


-2SC 

:4= 


^^. 


I 


8  ft.       4  ft. 


an. 


1ft. 


4  ft.,     i  ft. 


I 


The  first  or  lowest  note  is  called  eight  foot  C,  the  second  fonr  foot  0,  the 
third  two  foot  G,  and  so  on,  these  figures  representing  the  length  of  the  pipes 
which  give  the  notes  at  their  proper  pitch.  The  sixteen  foot  0  is  an  octave 
lower,  and  the  thirty-two  foot  0  (the  lowest  touo  of  any  great  organ)  two 
octaves  lower  than  the  first  note  above  given.  I  give  the  names  in  what  the 
organ  builders  would  call  them,  "  foot  lengths,"  in  preference  to  using  the 
other  method.     The  reason  will  be  evident  further  on. 

Now,  if  we  bring  on  the  full  power  of  a  great  organ,  that  is,  draw  all  the  so- 
called  "  stops," — what  do  we  hear  ?  (Convenience  of  notation  necessitates 
giving  the  octaves  two  octaves  higher  than  their  real  pitch.)  Let  us  suppose 
that  the  lowest  note  of  the  pedal  is  struck.  We  shall  then  hear  the  following 
notes — all  two  octaves  lower  be  it  remembered. 

Diagram  2. 


i 


^m. 


i 


^ 


16     10} 


«l 


84     2}      a      1}     8}      1 


32= 


I 


All  of  these  tones  will  be  heard  from  this  one  note,  and  yet  all  are  united 
in  one  grand,  clear  and  definite  unison.  This  is  as  we  hear  them  in  the  or^n. 
Do  we,  or  can  we,  hear  all  of  them  with  equal  distinctness  in  nature  ?  No. 
In  a  high  note  we  may  faintly  hear  the  lower  or  sub-harmonics.  In  a  low 
note  we  may  more  easily  hear  a  part  of  the  over-tones.  To  hear  them  all 
would  be  impossible.  Niagara  gives  us  our  best  opportunity,  but  even  there 
the  last  two  or  three  notes  were  inaudible. 

All  the  tones  above  the  ground  tone  have  been  named  over-tones  or  har- 
monics ;  the  tones  below  nre  called  the  sub-harmonics,  or  under-tones.     It 


I 


NIAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


will  be  noticed  that  thoy  form  the  complete  natural  harmony  of  the  ground 
tone.  What  is  the  real  pitch  of  this  chord  ?  According  to  our. regular ^jnusi- 
cal  notation,  the  fourth  note  given  represents  the  normal  pitch  or  diapason ; 
the  reason  being  that  the  eight-foot  tone  is  the  only  one  that  give  the  notes  as 
written.  According  to  nature,  I  must  claim  the  first,  or  lowest  note,  as  the 
real  or  ground  tone.  In  this  latter  way  I  shall  represent  the  true  tone  or 
pitch  of  Niagara. 

How  should  I  prove  all  this  P  My  first  step  was  to  visit  the  beautiful  Iris 
Island,  otherwise  known  as  Ooat  Island.  Donning  a  suit  of  oil-cloth  and 
other  disagreeable  loose  stuff,  I  followed  the  guide  into  the  Cave  of  the 
Winds.  Of  course,  the  sensation  at  first  was  so  novel  and  overpowering  that 
the  question  of  pitch  was  lost  in  one  of  personal  safety.  Remaining  here  a 
few  minutes,  I  emerged  to  collect  my  dispersed  thoughts.  After  regaining 
myself,  I  returned  at  once  to  the  point  of  beginning,  and  went  slowly  in  again 
(alone),  testing  my  first  question  of  pitch  all  the  way ;  that  is,  during  the  ap- 
proach, while  under  the  fall,  while  emerging,  and  while  standing  some 
distance  below  the  face  of  the  fall,  not  only  did  I  ascertain  this  (I  may  say  in 
spite  of  myself,  for  I  could  hear  but  one  pitch),  but  I  heard  and  sang  dearly 
the  pitch  of  all  the  harmonic  or  accessory  tones,  only  of  course  several  octaves 
higher  than  their  actual  pitch.  Seven  times  have  I  been  under  these  singing 
waters  (always  alone  except  the  first  time),  and  the  impression  has  invariably 
been  the  same,  so  far  as  determining  the  tone  and  its  components.  I  may  be 
allowed  to  withhold  the  result  until  I  speak  of  my  experience  at  the  Ilorse- 
shoe  Fall,  and  the  American  Fall  proper — it  being  scarcely  necessary  to  say 
that  the  Cave  of  the  Winds  is  under  the  smaller  casc.de,  known  as  the 
Central  Fall. 

My  next  step  was  to  stand  on  Luna  Island,  above  the  Central  Fall,  and  on 
the  west  side  of  the  American  Fall  proper.  I  went  to  the  extreme  eastern 
side  of  the  island,  in  order  to  lose  as  far  as  possible  the  sound  of  the  Central 
Fall,  and  get  the  full  force  of  the  larger  fall.  Here  were  the  same  great 
ground  tone  and  the  same  harmonics,  differing  only  somewhat  in  pitch. 

I  then  went  over  to  the  Horseshoe  Fall  and  sat  among  the  rapids. .  There  it 
was  again,  only  slightly  higher  in  pitch  than  on  the  American  side.  Not  then 
knowing  the  fact,  I  ventured  to  assert  that  the  Horseshoe  Fall  was  less  in 
height,  by  several  feet,  than  the  American  Fall;  the  actual  difference  is  vari- 
ously given  at  from  six  to  twelve  feet.  Next  I  went  to  the  Three  Sisters  Is* 
lands,  and  here  was  the  same  old  story.  The  higher  harmonics  were  mostly 
inaudible  from  the  noise  of  .the  rapids,  but  the  same  two  low  notes 
were  ringing  out  clear  and  unmistakable.  In  fact,  wherever  I  was  I 
could  not  hear  anything  else  I  There  was  no  roar  at  all,  but  the  same  grand 
diapason — the  noblest  and  completest  one  on  earth  I  I  use  the  word  com- 
pletest  advisedly,  for  nothing  else  on  earth,  not  even  the  ocean,  reaches  any- 
where near  the  actual  depth  of  pitch,  or  makes  audible  to  the  human  ear  such 
a  complete  and  perfect  harmonic  structure. 

^  ^-Extract  from  Article  in  Scribner't. 


the  ground 
^ular^nusi- 
r  diapason ; 
;he  notes  as 
note,  as  the 
rue  tone  or 

autiful  Iris 

-cloth  and 

?are  of  the 

wering  that 

ling  here  a 

ir  regaining 

rly  in  again 

ing  the  ap- 

iding  some 

may  say  in 

Bang  dearly 

iral  octaves 

lese  singing 

8  invariably 

I  may  be 

;  the  Ilorse- 

ssary  to  say 

Dwn  as  the 

^all,  and  on 
eme  eastern 
the  Central 
same  great 
)itch. 

u.  There  it 
'.  Not  then 
was  less  in 
ince  is  vari- 
)  Sisters  Is* 
rere  mostly 
low  notes 
r  I  was  I 
lame  grand 
word  com- 
laches  any- 
m  ear  such 

tribner's. 


1 


2fIA0ARA  PARK  ILLV8TRATED. 
NATURE'S  NOBLEST  GARDEN. 

WILLIAM   ROBINSON. 

|I|^HE  noblest  of  nature's  gardens  that  I  have  yet 
V  Been  is  that  of  the  surroundings  and  neighbor- 
hood  of  the  Falls  of  Niagara.  Grand  as  are  the  colos- 
sal Falls,  the  rapids  and  the  course  of  the  river  for  a 
considerable  distance  above  and  below  possess  more 
interest  and  beauty. 

As  the  river  courses  far  below  the  Falls,  confined 
between  vast  walls  of  vook — the  clear  water  of  a 
peculiar  light  greenish  hue,  and  white  here  and  there 
with  circlets  of  yet  unsoothed  foam — the  effect  is 
startlingly  beautifu>,  quite  apart  from  the  Falls. 
The  high  cliffs  are  crested  with  woodsy  the  ruins  of 
the  great  rock  walls,  forming  wide  irregular  banks 
between  them  and  the  water's  edge,  often  so  far  be- 
low that  you  sometimes  look  from  the  upper  brink 
down  on  the  tops  of  tall  pines  that  seem  diminished  in 
size.  The  wild  vines  scramble  among  the  trees;  many 
flowers  and  shrubs  seam  the  high  rocks;  in  moist  spots 
here  and  there,  a  sharp  eye  may  detect  many  flowered 
tufts  of  the  beautiful  fringed  Gentian,  strange  to 
European  eyes;  and  beyond  all,  and  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  wood-embowerod  deep  river-bed,  a  portion  of 
the  crowning  glory  of  the  scene — the  Falls — a  vast 
cliff  of  illuminated  foam,  with  a  zone  towards  its  up- 
per edge  as  of  green  molten  glass.  Above  the  Falls 
the  scene  is  quite  different.  A  wide  and  peaceful 
river  carrying  the  surplus  water  of  an  inland  sea,  till 
it  gradually  finds  itself  in  the  coils  of  the  rapids,  and 
is  soon  lashed  in  such  a  turmoil  as  we  might  expect 
if  a  dozen  unpolluted  Shannons  or  Seines  were  run- 
ning a  race  together.  A  river  no  more  but  a  sea 
unreined.  By  walking  about  a  mile  above  the 
Falls  on  the  Canadian  shore  this  effect  is  finely 
seen,  the  breadth  of  the  river  helping  to  carry  out 
the  illusion.  As  the  great  waste  of  waters  descends 
from  its  dark  grey  and  smooth  bed  and  falls  whiten- 
ing into  foam,  it  seems  as  if  tide  after  tide  were  gale- 
heaped  one  on  another  on  a  sea  strand.  The  islands  stand  in  the  midst  of  all 
this  fierce  commotion  of  waters — below,  the  vast  ever  running  Falls ;  above,  a 
complication  of  torrents  that  seem  fltted  to  wear  away  iron  shores  ;  yet,  there 
they  stand,  safe  as  if  the  spirit  of  beauty  had  in  mercy  exempted  them  from  decay. 


I 


mAOARA  PARK  ILLUSTRATED. 


THE  CANTILEVER  BRIDGE. 


I 


IS    M   neceBsary  to   speak 
of  the   Cauiti  lever  Bridge 
when  writing  of  Nisgara 
aa   it  is  to   mention  the 
Falls,  for  if  one  is  a  master- 
piece of  nature,  the  other  is 
•  triumph  of  art.    This  bridge, 
bailt  by  the  Michigan  Central 
Bailroad  Company,  unites  Can- 
ada with  the  United   States. 
It  spans  the  Niagara  river  in  full 
view  of  the  mighty  cataract,  and  ia 
one  of  the  most  surprising  monu- 
ments of  the  skill  of,  the  engineer. 

When  this  structure  was  designed, 
there  were  Be\eral  reasons  for  avoid- 
ing the  plans  of  suspension  bridges 
and  other  known  styles  in  use. 
These  reasons  were  the  location  of 
the  bridge,  which,  being  a  short 
distance  below  the  Falls,  precluded  the  possibility  of  placing  any  supports  in 
^>he  center  of  the  stream,  which  at  this  point  is,  at  the  water's  edge,  five 
hundred  feet  from  shore  to  shore.  The  expense  of  the  suspension  bridges; 
the  long  time  involved  in  their  construction,  and  the  swinging  motion  of  that 
class  of  structures  when  loads  are  moved  over  them.  T^e  principle  worked 
out  in  the  plan  of  the  cantilever  is  that  of  a  trussed  beam  supported  at  or 
near  its  center,  with  the  arms  extending  each  way;  one  end  being  anchored 
or  counter* weighted  to  provide  for  unequal  loading.  This  is  the  only  finished 
example  of  such  a  design,  no  other  bridge  having  yet  been  completed  of  & 
similar  character.  Two,  however,  are  in  process  of  construction.  The  Firth 
of  Forth  Bridge  in  Scotland,  with  a  clear  span  of  sixteen  hundred  feet  ia 
being  built  upon  this  plan,  and  one  in  this  country,  ine  Fraser  River  Bridge^ 
three  hundred  and  fifteen  feet  clear  span,  on  the  Canadian  Pacific. 

The  structure  is  a  most  massive  one.  Entering  into  its  composition  is  tk- 
total  weight  of  three  thousand  tons  of  iron  and  best  manufactured  steel.  It 
is  of  sufficient  width  for  a  double  track,  and  is  built  so  solidly  it  can  carry 
with  perfect  safety  upon  each  track,  at  the  same  time,  a  freight  train  of  the 
heaviest  kind,  extending  the  entire  length  of  the  bridge.  The  total  length  of 
the  bridge  proper,  is  nine  hundred  and  nine  feet  nine  inches,  divided  into 
two  cantilevers  of  three  hundred  and  ninety-five  feet  on  the  Canadian  side, 
and  the  same  number  on  the  American.  These  are  supported  on  steel  towers 
arising  from  the  water's  edge.  Between  these  towers,  there  is  a  clear  space  of 
five  hundred  feet  over  the  river,  making  it  the  longest  double  track  truss  spaa 
in  the  world. 


1 


iry  to  speak 
i  lever  Bridge 
;  of  Nisgara 
mention  the 
ne  ia  a  master- 
re,  the  other  ift 

This  bridge, 
liigan  Central 

unites  Can- 
nited   States. 

river  in  full 
itaract,  and  ia 
irising  monn- 
he  engineer, 
was  designed, 
ions  for  avoid- 
ension  bridges 
ityles   in   use. 
he  location  of 
being  a  short 
ioj  sapports  in 
«r'8  edge,  five 
ension  bridges; 
motion  of  that 
inciple  worked 
npported  at  or 
Ming  anchored 
le  only  finished 
completed  of  & 
jn.    The  Firth 
mndred  feet  ia 
r  Biver  Bridge^ 
liflc. 

iomposition  is  ik 
bured  steel.  It 
dly  it  can  carry 
ht  train  of  the 
I  total  length  of 
38,  divided  into 
Canadian  side, 
on  steel  towera 
a  dear  space  of 
brack  trass  spaa 


1 


,j|'..|;-jr*'!. 


SYNCOPE  OF  THE  FA?  f  S. 


OKOBOB  W.   HOLI^Tv 


|N  tho  29th  of  March,  1848,  Iho  river  presented  •  remarkable  phenomenon. 
There  is  no  record  of  a  similar  one,  nor  has  it  been  observed  since.  The 
winter  had  been  intensely  cold,  and  the  ice  formed  on  Lake  Erie  was  very 
thick.  This  was  loosened  around  the  shores  by  the  warm  days  of  the  early 
spring.  Dnring  the  day,  a  stifF  easterly  wind  moved  the  whole  field  up  the 
lake.  About  sundown,  the  wind  chopped  suddenly  round  and  blew  a  gale 
from  the  west.  This  brought  the  vast  tract  of  ice  down  again  with  such  tre* 
mcndous  force  that  it  filled  in  the  neck  of  the  lake  and  the  outlet,  ao  that  the 
outflow  of  the  water  was  very  greatly  impeded.  Of  course,  it  only  needed  a 
short  space  of  time  for  the  Falls  to  drain  off  the  water  below  Black  Rock. 
The  consequence  was  that,  when  we  arose  in  the  morning  at  Niagara,  we  found 
our  river  was  nearly  half  gone.  The  American  channel  had  dwindled  to 
a  respectable  creek.  The  British  channel  looked  as  though  it  had  been  smit- 
ten with  a  quick  consumption,  and  was  faat  passing  away.  Far  up  from  the  head 
of  Ooat  Island,  and  out  into  the  Canadian  rapids  the  water  was  gone,  as  it 
was  also  from  the  lower  end  of  Ooat  Island,  out  beyond  the  tower.  The  rocks 
were  bare,  black  and  forbidding.  The  roar  of  Nia^dra  had  subsided  almost  to 
a  moan.  The  scene  was  desolate,  and  but  for  its  novelty  and  the  certainty 
that  it  would  change  before  many  hours,  would  have  been  gloomy  and  sadden- 
ing. Every  person  who  has  visit«d  Niagara  will  remember  a  beautiful  jet  of 
water  which  shoots  up  into  the  air  about  forty  rods  south  of  the  outer  Sister 
in  the  great  rapids,  called,  with  a  singular  contradiction  of  terms,  the 
"Leaping  Book."  The  writer  drove  a  hone  and  buggy  from  near  the  head  ' 
of  Goat  Island  out  to  a  point  above  and  near  to  that  jet.  With  a  log-oart 
and  four  horses,  he  drew  from  the  outside  of  the  outer  island  a  stick  of  pine 
timber  hewed  twelve  inches  square  and  forty  feet  long.  From  the  top  of  the 
middle  island  was  drawn  a  still  larger  stick,  hewed  on  one  side  and  sixty 
feet  long. 

There  are  few  placei?  on  the  globe  where  a  person  would  be  less  likely  to  go 
lumbering  than  in  the  rapids  of  Niagara,  just  above  the  brink  of  the  HoiMshoe 
Fall.  All  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  were  abroad,  exploring  recesses  and 
cavities  that  haid  never  before  b^n  exposed  to  mortal  eyes.  The  writer  went 
some  distance  up  the  shore  of  the  river.  Large  fields  of  the  muddy  bottom 
were  laid  bare.  The  shell-fish,  the  uni-valves  and  the  bi-valves  were  in  de- 
spair. The  clams,  with  their  backs  up  and  their  open  months  down  in  the 
mud,  were  making  their  sinuous  courses  toward  the  shrunken  stream.  This 
singular  syncope  of  the  waters  lasted  all  the  day,  and  night  dosed  over  the 
strange  scene.  But  in  the  morair^  our  river  was  restored  in  all  its  strength 
and  beauty  and  majesty. 


momenon. 
nee.  The 
B  was  very 
the  early 
3ld  ap  the 
Bw  a  gale 
I  Bach  tre- 
10  that  the 
'  needed  a 
aokRook. 
i,  we  fonnd 
rindled  to 
been  smit* 
tn  the  head 
gone,  as  it 
The  rooks 
1  almost  to 
B  certainty 
nd  sadden- 
itif  ttl  jet  of 
tnter  Sister 
terms,  the 
r  the  head ' 
1  a  log-cart 
}k  of  pine 
top  of  the 
I  and  sixty 

likely  to  go 
I  Hotseshoe 
eoessesand 
If  riter  went 
Idy  bottom 
fere  in  de- 
!>wn  in  the 
sam.  This 
id  orer  the 
its  strength 


Rpntrr  or  thb  taixb 


NZAQABA  PARK  ILLUBIBATED. 


THE  HORSESHOE  FALL. 


m 


K.  P.  WILLIS. 

HE  Horseshoe  Fall,  as  a  single  object,  is  nnqnesiionably  the  snblimest 
thing  in  nature.  To  know  that  the  angle  of  the  cataract,  from  the 
British  shore  to  the  tower,  is  nearly  half  a  mile  in  length ;  that  it  falls  so 
many  feet  with  so  many  tons  of  water  per  minnte  ;  or  even  to  see  it,  as  here, 
admirably  represented  by  the  pencil ;  conveys  no  idea  to  the  reader  of  the  im- 
pression produced  on  the  spectator.  One  of  the  most  remarkable  things  about 
Niagara  is  entirely  lost  in  the  drawing— its  motwn.  The  visitor  to  Nla^ra 
should  devote  one  day  exclusively  to  the  observation  of  this  astonishing 

feature.  , 

The  broad  flood  glides  out  of  Lake  Erie  with  a  confiding  tranquillity  that 
seems  to  yon,  when  you  know  its  impending  destiny,  like  that  of  a  human 
creature  advancing  irresistibly,  but  unconsciously,  to  his  death.  He  embraces 
the  bright  islands  that  part  his  arms  for  a  caress ;  takes  into  his  bosom  the 
calm  tribute  of  the  Tonewanta  and  Unnekuqua—small  streams  that  come 
drowsing  through  the  wilderness— and  flows  on,  till  he  has  left  Lake  Erie  far 
behind,  bathing  the  curving  lines  of  his  green  shores  with  a  surface  which  only 
the  summer  wind  ruffles.  The  channel  begins  to  descend ;  the  still  unsus- 
pecting waters  fall  back  into  curling  eddies  along  the  banks,  but  the  current 
in  the  centre  flows  smoothly  still.  Suddenly  the  powerful  stream  is  flung  with 
accumulated  swiftness  among  broken  rocks ;  and  as  you  watch  it  from  below, 
it  seems  tossed  with  the  first  shock  into  the  very  sky.  It  descends  in  foam, 
and  from  this  moment  its  agony  commences. 

For  three  miles  it  tosses  and  resists,  and,  racked  at  every  step  by  sharper 
rocks  and  increased  rapidity,  its  unwilling  and  choked  waves  fly  back,  to  be 
again  precipitated  onward,  and  at  last  reach  the  glossy  curve  convulsed  with 
supernatural  horror.  They  touch  the  emerald  arch,  and  in  that  instant,  like 
the  calm  that  follows  the  conviction  of  inevitable  doom,  the  agitation  ceaMS, 
—the  waters  pause, — the  foam  and  resistance  subside  into  a  transparent  still- 
ness,—and  slowly  and  solemnly  the  vexed  and  tormented  sufferer  drops  into 

the  abyss.  . 

Every  spectator,  every  child  is  struck  with  the  singular  deliberation,  the  un- 
naturaVslowness,  with  which  the  waters  of  Niagara  take  their  plunge.  The 
laws  of  gravitation  seem  suspended,  and  the  sublimity  of  the  tremendous 
gulf  below  seems  to  check  the  descending  victim  on  the  verge,  as  if  it  paused 

in  awe.  a       •       a 

— Anurwan  Botnery. 


.  J*»t-V> '--^^jBI^zr^B^I  w^j^  :s 


e  Bublimest 
from  the 
;  it  falls  so 
it,  as  here, 
>r  of  the  im- 
ihings  about 
rto  Niagara 
astonishing 

quillity  that 
at  a  human 
Ble  embraces 
I  bosom  the 
i  that  come 
ake  Erie  far 
9  which  only 
still  unsus- 
b  the  current 
is  flung  with 
from  below, 
ds  in  foam, 

p  by  sharper 
'  back,  to  be 
avulsed  with 
instant,  like 
ition  oeaijes, 
iparent  still- 
:  drops  into 

bion,  the  un- 

lunge.    The 

tremendous 

if  it  paused 


NIAGARA.  PARK  ILLUSTRATED 


ROCK  OF  AGES  AND  CAVE  OF  THE  WINDS. 


fflTANDINO  in  front  of  the  Cave  of  the  Winds,  like  a  sentinel  on  guard,  is 
J®  a  huge  boulder,  to  \rhich  the  name  has  bean  given  of  "The  Rock  of 
Ages."  This  stone  is  a  piece  of  the  precipice  which  has  broken  away  and 
fallen  into  its  present  position.  It  has  been  cut  away  by  the  action  of  the 
-waters,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  chips  which  nature  has  left  in  this  portion  of 
her  workshop.  From  shape  and  position  the  Rock  of  Ages  is  inaccessible,  but 
a  smaller  boulder  close  to  it  can  be  stood  upon  with  perfect  safety  when  the 
wind  is  blowing  down  the  river  or  from  the  American  shore.  Here  one  can 
be  within  a  few  feet  of  the  falling  sheet  without  feeling  any  inconvenience 
from  the  spray. 

From  this  point  the  grand  trip  is  made  behind  the  Fall.    A  trip,  which 
N.  P.  Willis  has  said  "is  an  achievement  equivalent  to  a  hundred  shower 
baths,  one  sever©  cold,  and  being  drowned  twice."  In  his  "  Pencillings  by  the 
Way,"  Willis  has  recorded  the  escape  made  from  a  fearful  death  by  a  young 
lady  of  his  party  who  had  gone  with  them  to  the  Cave  of  the  Winds.    It 
appears  that  in  a  spirit  of  youthful  adventure  this  young  girl  went  ahead  of 
■the  guide ;  as  she  crossed  over  a  narrow  ledge  of  rock  it  broke  behind  her  and. 
■he  was  left  without  footing  to  return.    In  this  dilemma  the  guide  was  with- 
out resource.    The  young  lady,  pale  and  trembling,  looked  at  the  frightful 
abyss  before  her,  then  at  the  friends  from  whom  she  had  been  so  suddenly 
separated,  it  might  be  forever.    A  gentleman  of  the  party,  however,  was 
equal  to  the  emergency;  tall  and  muscular,  he  threw  himself  across  the  chasm 
in  such  a  way  that  his  body  served  for  a  bridge,  which  the  young  lady  walked, 
over.    The  gentleman  was  drawn  back  by  his  friends  from  his  perilous  posi- 
tion, and  the  party  returned  in  happiness  to  their  hoteL    That  which  l.ad 
threatened  to  be  a  tragedy,  served  for  a  comedy,  or  rather  a  thrilling  tale, 
which  served  to  amuse  listeners  for  many  days  afterwards. 

This  young  person  was  doubtless  animated  with  that  desiii)  which  considers 
it  a  famous  thing  to  penetrate  ac  far  as  possible  "through  these  corridors  of 
MoXxxB."  The  farther  one  goes  in  the  Cave  of  the  Winds  the  more  unruly 
ho  finds  the  Prince  of  Air.  Blasts  appear  to  be  blown  at  one  time  from  every 
one  of  the  thirty-two  points  of  the  compass.  It  is  on  record  that  a  man  did 
once,  with  Herculean  effort,  burst  through  the  depending  column  of  water, 
bnt  was  immediately,  and  with  great  force,  thrown  to  the  gro,  xA,  After  re-^ 
eovering  from  the  shock,  he  could  only  rejoiu  his  comrades  by  orawling  face 
downward  and  digging  his  hands  in  the  loose  shale  of  the  pathway. 


rDS. 


on  guard,  is 

The  Rock  of 

cen  away  and 

action  of  the 

lis  portion  of 

icoessible,  but 

fety  when  the 

Here  one  can 

inconvenience 

A.  trip,  which 
ndrod  shower 
Billings  by  the 
th  by  a  yonng 
le  Winds.  It 
went  ahead  of 
ehind  her  and 
aide  was  with- 
t  the  frightful 
in  no  suddenly 
however,  was 
ross  the  chasm 
ig  lady  walked 
I  perilous  posi- 
liat  which  }.ad 
thrilling  tale, 

hich  considers 
it  corridors  of 
i  more  nnroly 
ae  from  eroiy 
hat  a  man  did 
nmnof  wa^er, 
)»i.  After  re- 
crawling  fao» 
ray. 


DISTINCTIVE  CHARMS  OF  NIAGARA. 


FHEDBBICK   LAW   OLMST.GA.D. 

HAVE  spoken  of  the  diatinctive  charm  of  Niagara  scenery.  If  it  were 
^  possible  to  have  the  same  conditions  detached  from  the  Falls  (which  it  is 
not,  as  I  shall  show),  Niagara  would  still  be  a  place  of  singular  ftiscination  ; 
possibly  to  some,  upon  whom  the  Falls  have  a  terrifying  effect,  even  more  so 
than  it  i>i  now.  Saying  nothing  of  the  infinitely  varied  beauties  of  water  and 
spray,  and  of  water-worn  rock,  I  will,  for  a  purpose,  mention  a  few  elements, 
which  contribute  to  this  distinctly"  "harm. 

The  eminent  English  botanist,  Sir  Joseph  Hooker,  has  said  that  he  found 
upon  Ooat  Island  a  greater  variety  of  vegetation  within  a  given  space  thaa 
anywhere  in  Europe,  or  east  of  the  Sierras  in  America ;  and  the  first  of  Amer- 
ican botanists.  Dr.  Asa  Gray,  has  repeated  the  statement.  I  have  followed 
the  Apalachian  chain  almost  from  end  to  end,  and  traveled  on  horseback  *'  in 
search  of  the  picturesque"  over  four  thousand  miles  of  the  Continent,  without 
finding  elsewhere  the  same  quality  of  forest  beauty  which  was  once  abundant 
about  the  Falls,  and  which  is  still  to  be  observed  in  those  parts  of  Goat  Island 
where  the  original  growth  of  trees  and  shrubs  has  not  been  disturbed,  and 
where  from  caving  banks,  trees  are  not  now  exposed  to  excessive  dryness  at 

the  root. 

Nor  have  I  found  anywhere  else  such  tender  effects  of  foliage  as  were  once 
to  be  seen  in  the  drapery  hanging  down  the  wall  of  rock  on  the  American 
shore  below  the  Fall,  and  rolling  up  the  slope  below  it,  or  with  that  still  to  be 
seen  in  a  favorable  season  and  under  favorable  lights,  on  the  Canadian  steepa 
and  crags  between  the  Falls  and  the  ferry. 

All  these  distinctive  qualities— the  great  variety  of  the  indigenous  peren- 
nials and  annuals,  the  rare  beauty  of  the  old  woods,  and  the  exceeding  loveli- 
ness of  the  rook  foliage— I  believe  to  be  a  direct  effect  of  the  Falls,  and  as  much 
a  part  of  its  majesty  as  the  mist-oloud  and  the  rainbow. 

.They  are  all,  as  it  appears  to  me,  to  be  explained  by  the  oiroumstance  that 
at  two  periods  of  the  year  when  the  northern  American  forest  elsewhere  is 
liable  to  suffer  actual  constitutional  depression,  that  of  Niagara  is  insured 
against  like  ills,  and  thus  retains  youthful  luxuriance  to  an  uuusual  age. 

First,  this  masses  of  ice,  which  every  winter  are  piled  to  a  great  height  be- 
low the  Falls,  and  the  great  rushing  body  of  IceKsold  water  coming  from  the 
northern  lakes  in  the  spring,  prevent  at  Niagara  the  hardship  under  which 
trees  elsewhere  often  suffer  through  sudden  checks  to  premature  growth ;  and 
second,  when  droughts  elsewhere  occur  as  they  do  every  few  years,  of  such 
■•verity  that  ti«es  in  full  foliage  droop  and  dwindle,  and  even  sometimes  oast 
Iheir  leaves,  the  atmosphere  at  Niagara  is  more  or  less  moistened  by  the  con- 
lUntiy  evaporating  spray  of  the  Falls,  and  in  certain  situ»tions  freqnenUf 
bathed  by  drifting  clouds  of  mist. 


I    / 


%A. 


Bry.  If  it  were 
alls  (which  it  ia 
lar  ftuoination ; 
if  even  more  so 
ies  of  water  and 
a  few  elements 

that  he  found 
iven  space  than 
e  first  of  Amer> 

have  followed 

horseback  "  in 
itinent,  without 

once  abundant 
i  of  Goat  Island 

disturbed,  and 
osive  dryness  at 

ige  as  were  once 
n  the  American 
h  that  still  to  be 
Canadian  steepa 

idigenous  peren- 
szoeeding  loveli^ 
ills,  and  M  much 

roumstanoe  that 
rest  elsewhere  is 
ogara  is  insured 
nusnal  age. 
great  height  be* 
Boming  from  the 
hip  under  which 
ire  growth ;  and 
w  years,  of  inch 
a  tometimei  oast 
ened  by  thb  con- 
rtioni  freqnentlf 


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